thimbly things

Like I said before, we had a fantastic week with the fam. Here’s a meager list of stuff that rocked:

• Taking the ladies to the Quality Thrift Store (I’ll show you my new treasures later this week… And I haven’t forgotten that I promised to share some other thrifting finds a while ago. I will! I have my trusty blog to remind me.)
• Seeing Speed Racer with the siblings (I love this movie and don’t care what old fogey critics think! It’s pure fun. I especially love monkeys who wear little boys on their pajamas. Watch the music video and try to pretend you’re bored. I dare you. And here is Evan’s very very very positive review.)

• Getting some of Evan’s old things from when he was a kid, including an old birth announcement and a super-cute quilted wall hanging (I’ll share that later too.)
• Emily in the pool

• Emily calling her Uncle Collin “Tony.” There’s a story we’ll be telling when we’re 80… It started out sounding like “Collin” and quickly devolved (video footage to come)
• Praise reports such as Dad getting tenure and the family’s house selling
• Playing Mad Gab for the gazillionth time and Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture Edition for the fourth time
• Losing both games
• Beauty salon time with the ladies (new styles all around!)
• Jacob looking like an old man

• Enjoying The Office and Lost together while eating 3 kinds of ice cream and chocolate chip cookies
• Bibi making a dress for Em
• Just being together, if only for 4 days

And I can’t not mention this: Today, Jacob is one month old. I really can’t believe it! Has he already been with us that long??? What a sweetie. He seems to be moving to a 3-4 hour schedule too, which is a nice change. I’m pretty sure he slept for about 5 hours last night, so we’re getting closer to a full night’s sleep! Woo-hoo!!!

Thank you for the reading suggestions!  If you have anything else you’d like to share, please do!

Yesterday was another “thrifting Saturday,” and I just want to share this little bit of awesomeness with you.

Since it’s not the clearest photo, here are a couple close-ups.

I paid $3.98 for these pink carnations at the Quality Thrift Store.  And I almost didn’t go yesterday.  I went to the Salvation Army first, where I found a few things I’ll share later.  Then I ran a few errands, and on my way home–at the last moment–I decided to stop in at the good old tried and true QTS.   Whew!  I’m glad I didn’t miss this one.  (By the way, if I seem addicted to the thrift store, just remember that I won’t be getting out much after Brother arrives.  So I’m tankin’ up while I can!)

Late yesterday evening, Evan screened his short film, The Box, here at our house.  He invited all the cast and crew, and it was really neat for everyone to see themselves all polished up and edited together.  I’m so proud of him.  If you saw the raw footage of the film, you’d never suspect that it could transform into a professional-looking production.  Filmmaking astounds me.

The weekend makes me tired.  I think for most people, the weekend is a time to recharge.  For me, it’s my chance to get out and get things done.  So sometimes I overdo it.  And then I crash.  I napped on Saturday and on Sunday, just as I did last weekend, and then I suffered from slight insomnia last night.  Just couldn’t get it quite right.

It was a lovely weekend though.  I went to the tried and true Quality Thrift Store a quarter-mile away and picked up some neat finds.  Instead of crocheting my own, I found a random-stripe ripple afghan for $5.  And it’s already broken in.

I also found this tediously embroidered tree.  No lie–about 7 people stopped me at the thrift store to comment on it.   Lots of Oh, that’s interesting!s.  I agree.  Though it is also a bit strange.  I’m thinking of embellishing it somehow.  Perhaps with birds or flowers.  Any ideas?

And here is my Mystery WIP.  I began it while watching Barton Fink with Evan, and it evolved into I don’t know what.  A scarf?  A purse?  A pillow?  I really don’t know.  At first, I was working from a pattern in Pretty Knits.  I knew my gauge was off, but I didn’t realize how off.  I decided to make a ruffle to slim things down, and now I don’t know what this is anymore.  But it started as a bag.  Hmmm…

Speaking of Barton Fink, Evan is doing a Coen Brothers Month over at Movie Zeal.  He talked me into watching all 12 of their films sequentially with him.  I’ve never studied a director (or two) in this way before, and it’s very interesting to see their work evolve.  I find that I feel strongly about every film–I either love it or hate it.  But then I also think Perhaps this will be better upon a second viewing…  I don’t know.  I’ve always loved Raising Arizona.  Since I was about 8 years old.  Knowing the quirkiness of this film helped me appreciate Blood Simple.  I couldn’t help but notice similar themes, camera angles, and even a splash of their Coen humor.  But when we got to Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink, I was pretty disappointed.  But like I said, maybe if I watch them again?

Last night was The Hudsucker Proxy night.

And The Brothers redeemed themselves.  At least, for now.

I got my package from Sew, Mama, Sew!  Though I requested two half-yard increments of different fabrics, I’m not at all disappointed to have received just the Awesome Octagons I talked about last week.  I have many-a-vision for it, and it’s good that I have a full yard.

I think it does match the bathroom nicely and fits with the retro styling.  Now, if I could find (and afford) some octagonal mirrors to replace what we have, that would be so stinkin’ great.  And maybe I can just paint the light fixtures white.  They’re rust-colored.  Rust + Pink + Burgundy + Taupe = You do the math.

But this fabric…

As soon as the photo shoot ended, I gathered all the laundry in the house, adding my new yardage to the pile.  As soon as it’s dried and pressed, I might make a curtain for the vanity and steal the tension rod out of the kitchen window.  There will be plenty left over for other projects as well.

By the way, I watched Steel Magnolias last night (for about the 86th time), and Shelby’s bathroom (where she talks to Jackson before their wedding) has the exact same pink and burgundy tile scheme as ours.  I don’t know if that’s a good or bad sign, since the movie is so quintessentially 1980s.  Big hair, ugly bridesmaids’ gowns, unflattering pants, etc.  But it’s also one of the most endearing and enduring films I can think of.  I am a girl from the South, but still…

Making the mail even more special today was an unexpected card and gift we received from Evan’s parents.  Thanks guys!  That was so encouraging!

This isn’t exactly a “crafty” post, as indicated by it’s title. However, my husband is very much into the craft of film and filmmaking. He has a site where he and some other brilliant guys review films, and today’s post is just fantastic. Please, if you like movies, go there and check it out.  There’s a Jane Austen mention worth your while.

Evan recently had the privilege of judging a 24-hour filmmaking competition as well. One of our favorite submissions involved a friend of ours, and it has quickly gained a bit of a following on YouTube.

So that’s all the film-related stuff I’ve got for you. I’ll be back later with a truly crafty post. Promise.

This is the first time I’ve ever made lace, and I found it quite addicting. This pattern is “Droplets Trim” from The Crochet Stitch Bible (Thank you awesome Tulsa library!). I’m thinking it would make a lovely trim on Emily’s Easter dress. Although I haven’t planned any other part of it yet. This will be my inspiration. I’m thinking a little knit jacket in gray and some pale pink cotton fabric for the dress. Hmm…

In other news, our little family is fairly obsessed with the Oscars. I planned to work on some crafty project while watching them this year, but it is hard to focus on two obsessions at once. We had a little party with some friends, ate lots of popcorn and dry brownies (which were still quite good), and called out our predictions throughout the show. At the end, we tallied our correct guesses. Evan, of course, won. What was surprising was that none of us guessed right on Best Supporting Actress… And I believe we all cast different votes. I fell asleep during Michael Clayton (which I blame on being a pregnant beached whale), and never saw Tilda Swinton’s apparently fantastic performance.

I have to tell you that had I not gone with my heart on Best Picture, I would have guessed correctly (and tied with Evan for the win!). I just couldn’t bare to see another bleak film win. So I held out hope in the underdog, Juno. I knew it was a lost cause. But I sure hope it’s remembered, and I’m darn glad that Diablo Cody got an Oscar.

After a little morning drama yesterday whilst trying to make coffee and get productive, Emily received this sweet little package from her Great-Grands. It’s so pinkish and girly, and it allows us to continue the celebration of Valentine’s Day just a bit longer. Truly, with our anniversary just days after the holiday, we might as well make February an entire month of hearts and sweetness. Why not?

In fact, Evan took me on another (!) date last night. To see U23D. Therein lies the extra bit of night music. If you like U2, you will love this. If you don’t like U2, well, it’s a U2 concert, so…

I especially loved the supposed “cheesiness” of Bono singing in my face and almost hitting me with his guitar. Love, love, love. And I will tell you why going to a concert on film is much better than a real concert: first, it cost us $10 each. And we are People On A Budget. Second, no crowds, no traffic, no mosh pits, no crazy-high guy to curse at for pushing you. (At an Arcade Fire concert, I had to get all assertive on some skinny punk. Think me, turning around and yelling, “Get off of me! I’m pregnant, you idiot!” Then think many stunned college kids watching their elbows and inching away from me for the rest of the concert.) Third, Bono in all his awesomeness up close.

I’ll admit–there’s no substitute for the adrenaline rush one gets from “being there.” But this was still pretty great.

The message of the concert is obvious–it’s not just a string of fun sing-a-longs. It’s more of a sermon about humanity. Afterwards, I felt convicted about so many things, but I’ll spare you. Instead, here’s an excerpt from Beautiful Day:

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Beautiful day
Don’t let it get away

Touch me, take me to that other place
Reach me, I know I’m not a hopeless case

What you don’t have you don’t need it now
What you don’t know you can feel it somehow
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
You don’t need it now, you don’t need it now

Beautiful day

EDIT: See Evan’s review of the film here.

than a little girl riding the rocking horse her Great-Grandaddy made her for Christmas.  Not every handmade gift is so thoroughly appreciated by its recipient.  Emily actually dragged her horsey over to me and more or less begged me to help her on.  Such sweetness.  Unfortunately, when she attempted to dismount, she somehow ended up with horsey on top of her.  But no ouchies, so all was well.
I wanted to show you the pretty rose Evan brought home for our anniversary last night, but I’m having trouble moving the pictures from the camera to the computer.  Usually it’s just a matter of plugging it in and clicking a button, but something is just not working today.  He also brought home cheesecake which he subsequently drizzled with cherries.  Yum.  We couldn’t get a babysitter in time to go out, so we watched Jane Austen’s Persuasion (the new, ITV version).  What a good man to watch yet another predictable love story with long dance sequences.  I gotta say, I loved it but could do without the modern elements the director threw in.  I’m just not a fan of weird camera angles and movement in a film that is otherwise completely 1815.  It was distracting.  But I still loved Wentworth and Anne.  Great chemistry there.

Tonight we have reservations for dinner at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price Tower.  We stayed there when I was 8 months pregnant with Emily.  Now that we’re making a second trip, I’m 7 months pregnant with Baby Brother.

After a long hiatus from the blogging world (and a lot of lurking…sounds creepy, huh?), I decided to follow in Amanda Soule’s footsteps and list 10 things that make February lovely right now. So here goes.

1. Listening to the Across the Universe soundtrack again and again.
2. Emily “coloring” for the first time.
3. www.moviezeal.com
4. Preparing for the Oscars by watching lots of movies with Evan.
5. Emily running through the house with her heart-shaped Valentine’s Day “boon.”
6. Jane Austen on TV.
7. Handmade Valentines.
   
8. Quilting…or planning to quilt with beautiful Repro Depot fabric.
   
9. Evan’s homemade bread–especially the cinnamon raisin batch.
10. Three years of marriage to my college sweetheart.

For bonus points, I’m inspired right now by the idea of starting afresh with thimbly things. I’ve intended to do this for months now but was afraid that I wouldn’t fully commit. What a silly, paralyzing thought! So here I am, and I’m just gonna do it already!