Do your b**bs hang low?

Do they wobble to an fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder
like a Continental soldier?
Do your b**bs hang low?

Mine are hanging low, and the blown-out nursing bras aren't helping much.

I totally need to buy some bras. I'm close to weaning the little guy. Should I wait until then? Any leads on where to get good bras? I haven't had a regular bra in six years, probably haven't bought one in eight.

*****I had to edit the title because I've already gotten about ten google searches leading to this post.

Would you trust me with your children?

When I'm not wearing cute handmade skirts, you might find me wearing something like in the photo above. As I was getting ready for my work day at our co-op preschool I thought how funny I looked, especially in contrast to my glamorous sister. But, each thing I wore was chosen with care. You have to dress just right to survive another day of positive discipline, conflict resolution, and healthful snack making.

Let's start at the top:

My hair is pinned back because it's getting a little out of control. I only schedule my hair appointments for every seven or eight weeks. Six weeks would be better, but getting childcare is such a hassle that I push it out, probably getting one less haircut a year — saves me some money, too.

I put on my Miraculous Medal of Mary recently to gather up as much good mama juju as possible while I wait for the little guy's sedation dental work appointment. Blaize got me the original medal when I was pregnant with my first, and, a second for the second. It's blue and pretty and makes me feel good. My doula, Mary, got a matching one and that makes me feel good, too — double Mary goodness. I'm not Catholic, or, ever been Catholic, but sometimes people have said I "look Catholic." I figure Mary doesn't care.

Black clothes. I used to wear black almost everyday. It was a good designer uniform and pretty much matched my mood. Now, I'm drawn to colors. I think it's because I hang out with kids. But, some days you just have to wear black — layers of it.

Black crochet purse. It's made of polypropelene and it's nearly indestructible, just don't drink out of it. It was a hand-me-down, so I'm counting it as a green-non-green situation.

Maternity yoga pants still have a place in my wardrobe. While I've only been accused of being pregnant once since my last birth, I'm counting that as an improvement, since I was asked twice after my first birth. I guess it's time to start exercising.

The Best Boots Evah came from a garage sale long ago. They're vintage with a short cut, not sure what you call that. They've molded to my foot just right. I love them.

That's it — my uniform for surviving small children.

Namedropping (Part Two)

"Your new best friend, Heather Ross"*

*That’s a quote from my friend, Bitter Betty, who admittedly gets funnier when she’s feeling insecure or jealous. While famous fabric designer Heather hasn’t actually bumped local crafty pal Bethany out of BFF status, she was fun to meet and talk to when she did an in-store demonstration at a local fabric/yarn shop. She showed us some of her cute new designs (coming out soon) and did an elastic thread “shirring” demo. I even got to take home the demo thread. Woot! Heather Ross touched my thread — reminds me of catching the drumstick at a Thompson Twins concert back about 1984.


H & me at Luminous Threads.

H circa 1985

A commenter once left a semi-anonymous note about how I went to high school with Heather’s sister, but didn’t leave any details. The mystery went unsolved until one day I got an email from Heather. It turns out she spent some growing-up years around here, and, coincidently, went to middle school with my friend Sara, as well as my husband. He thinks that he remembers her, as, “That girl who carried a purse to school every day.”

***Update***

After I wrote the original post above, Heather contacted me because she had figured out that she *knew* me. One of the facial expressions in my Unknown Me post jogged her memory of a self-portrait I did a long, long time ago. Turns out we went to school together for a short time, too. Unfortunately, *I* was the mean girl in art class who made fun of her neon pink sweater and Ralph Macchio portrait. I don’t remember doing this, but it does sound like something my angry, pseudo-punk high school self would have said. I guess that “holier-than-thou” attitude, that a co-worker once described me as having, has been around for awhile. Fortunately, Heather is a much nicer person than I, and was full of complimentary things to say about our short stint as classmates.

Me circa 1985

This classic photo from my Junior year features my one-and-only perm, replete with a nearly neon pink sweatshirt. I think this is from the same year (maybe the year before) as Heather's neon pink sweater. How I thought my look was better than hers is a mystery. I've lost the ability to spot the make-or-break nuances of high school fashion. This photo is for you, Heather. BFF, right? ;)

A Tasha Tudor Valentine

This is a valentine card I made for my mom about twenty years ago. The idea and instructions came from the wonderful, but, sadly not-in-print book Drawn From New England, by Bethany Tudor. She's the daughter of children's book author/illustrator Tasha Tudor — who's about 93 by the way! Each flower or tree can be pulled out of its pot where a hidden Valentine message waits.

I used to spend a lot of time with this book dreaming about all the crafts, seasonal celebrations, and old-fashioned farm lifestyle this creative family experienced. Now that I have children I'm even more amazed at the life that Tasha made for herself and her family. If only I could accomplished a fifth of what she did/does...

Read more about the Tudor Family at their website, where you can also buy things directly from them, including Bethany's book.

Namedropping (Part One)

This is the first in a series of namedropping posts. I was looking for a photo of myself from this night, but it seems to be buried a little too deeply. I thought I better start posting anyway, before they go stale.

Tony Bennett Called Me Baby

My first job out of college was in-house artist for a small record store chain — the pay wasn’t much, but the perks were great. I had my own studio, a monthly CD stipend, and lots of free shows. A few of the bands I saw were: The Byrds, Ice-T, Public Enemy, Arrested Development, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Henry Rollins, Austin Lounge Lizards, Cowboy Junkies, Michelle Shocked, Phranc — anyone else love Phranc?

One night, after a Tony Bennett dinner show, I got to meet the guy that Sinatra called, "the best singer in the business." Knowing this meet-up might happen, I had fancied myself up with a new dress, lipstick, and an updo. Believe me, I usually don’t dress up for people — but, that night, I figured Tony would appreciate it if I left the thrifted, over-sized manpants at home. We were introduced, he touched my arm, said some words — nothing too memorable. I must have left my feminist heart in San Francisco that night, though, because I *do* remember liking that Tony B. called me Baby.

Soft Toys

Feeling non-verbal non-typal tonight. Fabric balls were for C for Christmas. The Wee Wonderfuls dolls were just finished today. More photos at flickr.

Kids Sweater Apron Tutorial

I don't get a lot of opportunity to thank all of you individually. Blogger makes near impossible to reply to comments — and, even if it was easy, I'd still be too short on time to keep up. I want all of you (commenters, bloggers, and lurkers) to know that I love what we have going here in crafty blogland. Thank you!

To reciprocate all this feel-goodness I've written up a Sweater Apron Tutorial over at Flickr.

You all should know that my five-year-old son came up with this idea. Sometimes I call him the Art Director. He has a lot of good ideas and likes to delegate them. ;) He saw a fulled sweater piece lying around, held it up to his body and said, "This would be a good apron." He was so right! At first, I thought a sweater might be weird as an apron, but, it's really a great fabric because of its absorbency. Kids are such wonderful free thinkers.

P.S. I'd love to see photos if you make a sweater apron.

P.P.S. I just googled "sweater apron" and, of course, Amy Karol already made one. ;)