30/30 with 15 minutes to spare!!

National blog posting month almost killed me

Only posting great stuff in July--whenever I feeeeel like it. :)

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29/30 penultimate nablopomo!

Prompt: In what ways have you become 'green' in the past few years? Do you think that it has made a difference?

Regarding the "greening" of America, I think any change in behavior (no matter how small) is a good thing. 

I've stepped up my recycling game since I moved into this house. I'm much more aware of packaging--when I buy and when I sell.  And I've really tried (I promise!) to always ask before buying: do I really neeeeed this? 

That said, I'm just one person and it will take more than me to make a difference. I hope as the months go by, local city services and community organizations will help facilitate more and more ways to reuse, reduce, and recycle!

xxoo

Jenni

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28/30 NaBloPoMo

Today's prompt: 
Tell us everything you know about the day you were born.

I arrived. 

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Fat Quarter cuts · Quilting @ CraftGossip

http://quilting.craftgossip.com/fat-quarter-cuts/2010/06/28/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+craftgossip%2FxQGh+%28Craft+Gossip%29

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27/30 the countdown begins

Blog posting each day has been exhausting, especially since this is SUMMER and schooooooooool's out.

And I find my blog posts are 87% more boring when they are...er...forced.

I can't wait for big changes in July. I've been secretly working on a freebie pattern/tutorial.

There now. Doesn't that make nablopomo post 27/30 a bit more worth the while?

xxoo
jenni

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26/30

Just undervthe wire for my 26th official blog post for national blog posting month: June challenge!

I had great dessert with a dear friend. It rained and lightninged (sp???) for an hour while we sat in a safe little cocoon--except for the hot waiter who kept distracting us, the woman with 2 teenage sons glaring at us, and the not-so-great singer.

:)

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25/30 nablopomo

Prompt: How do you feel about the name given to you at birth?

Just dandy. 

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The harlot inside of me really wants these.

FABULOUS Pair HOLLYWOOD REGENCY Vintage French by fabulousmess

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45929728/fabulous-pair-hollywood-regency-vintage?ref=sr_list_7&ga_search_query=Gold+regency&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B%5D=tags&includes%5B%5D=title

xxoo ( or should that be xxxoo? )
jenni

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23/30 nablopomo

Prompt: do something nice for somebody; then tell us what you did

Um, it's 11:15pm and I'm not sure I did anything nice today. I don't mean I did mean horrible bad awful things to people all day. I just can't think of anything extraordinarily nice.

Did you do anything nice?

xxoo
jenni

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Who quilts when it is 100 degrees outside?

A madwoman.



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Informal consumer poll...

My digital camera, I'm afraid, in on her last legs. It's been a good run. She's been a great travel partner over the years, and this past year she's been a good little independent contractor making pretty (ok & sometimes not so pretty) pix for http://jenni20.etsy.com

A Canon Elph. Slim. Lightweight Silver. A foil, really, to my non slim, lightweight, dark self.

What do you have? What do you love? What do you wish were different about your photog companion?

xxoo
Jenni

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Fwd: Fun Ideas for Summer Sewing

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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Pink Chalk Fabrics" <kathy@pinkchalkfabrics.com>
Date: June 19, 2010 4:38:09 PM CDT
To: "Jennifer" 
Subject: Fun Ideas for Summer Sewing
Reply-To: "Pink Chalk Fabrics" <kathy@pinkchalkfabrics.com>

June 19, 2010

Fun Ideas for Summer Sewing

Hello Jennifer, A whole lot of cuteness came through the Pink Chalk Fabrics door this week! Whimsical prints and new downloadable patterns from Sis Boom. The Boxer Shorts (available for both children and adults) would look very cute made up in novelty prints. Perfect for summer slumber parties and hot lazy days. Enjoy! Castle Peeps by Lizzy House A fun new collection featuring villagers, castles and a very unique stripe. Visit the Pink Chalk Studio blog for a link to this free quilt pattern designed by Lizzy. The entire collection (18 prints) available as Fat Quarter Sets and Yardage. Boys Will Be Boys by David Walker This playful and sophisticated set of prints combines little boys, balls, monkeys, and puppies in colors to match: Grey, Blue, Yellow and Red. Available as yardage and Fat Quarter sets. 12 Joys of Christmas by Sheri Berry Sheri's retro take on the 12 days of Christmas features records, paper snowflakes, cookies, cocoa, skaters and more. All sure to conjure nostalgic memories from Christmases past. New Patterns from Sis Boom All of the Sis Boom downloadable patterns are now in stock. Super cute tunics, baby wear and VERY COOL boxer shorts for children and adults. All of our downloadable patterns can be downloaded immediately after purchase. Sew Now! Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt This collection continues to be a top seller. We currently have the entire collection in stock along with Fat Quarter sets in all three colorways. Enjoy! Happy Summer Sewing, Kathy Specials: Select Moda Designers 40% Off Michael Miller Fabrics 15% Off Rural Jardin by French General 20% Off

Thank you for being a customer! Kathy Mack, Shop Owner + Passionate Maker of Things

 

18/30 NaBloPoMo June Challenge

Day 18 Prompt: What's the one food you feel like you could't live without? What's the one food you'd rather die than put in your mouth?


I'm pretty sure I couldn't live without cheese in all its delightful forms--including queso, cream cheese (and cheesecake), string cheese, heck, even cottage cheese although I'm not sure that really qualifies.

I would rather die than put squid, octopus, and most other living-in-water creatures in my mouth. But I wouldnt' mind owning this necklace.







xxoo
jenni

17/30 If you could take a train journey through any part of the world, where would you go?

NaBloPoMo prompt: If you could take a train journey through any part of the world, where would you go?

Australia. 

Or Switzerland. 

Heck, anywhere! Calgon, take me away....

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Beatriz Milhazes: The Beach (A Praia) (1998.80) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1998.80

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15/30 Half Way There--NaBloPoMo

Today's Prompt: What's your superpower?

Well, if I let the general public know that, then I'd lose my power, right? Isn't that how it works? Actually, I don't know. My brother is the sci-fi/comic person in our family.

My superpower: uncanny ability to mimic accents--except Russian. That one's really hard for me.

I can also remember lyrics to just about any song in the world. I should really be on that Wayne Brady show.

xxoo
jenni

14/30 NaBloPoMo

Day 14 Prompt: What are the five best bands you've seen play live?

I haven't been to *that* many concerts; I'm pretty choosy about how I shell out my cash. (Well, not always, but when it comes to 75 bucks worth of concert tickets, I am.)

I'm not sure this order is least to greatest...well, actually I'm sure #1 is #1. As for the rest, well.... jumbled.

5. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
The venue: Dallas Museum of Arts, Horchow Auditorium
I felt like she was singing to me the whole night; it was such a great and intimate space. (And I mean that in a completely non-lesbonic way.)

4. Brandi Carlile
The venue: 1st Time House of Blues (with A Fine Frenzy), 2nd time...Granada? I can't remember.
The HOB concert was my intro to A Fine Frenzy--fabulous, stunning. But when Brandi came out on stage, the house was electric. I wasn't one of the groundlings (I really don't like to be in masses of people standing for hours on end), I had reserved balcony seating, but it felt like I was front, center. The second time I saw her was pretty awesome, too.

3. Cher
The venue: American Airlines Center
Really, do I even need to describe this show? Cher. One word. Says it all.

2. Fleetwood Mac
The venue: American Airlines Center
Oh, Stevie, you witchy woman. I laughed, I sang along, I cried.

1. U2
The venue: (the super brand new) Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Oh, Bono, you witchy man. I laughed, I sang along, I cried.

xxoo
jenni

Things I love...

When you sleep with your hair in a bun, it actually stays intact all night, and your second-day ponytail then has a pretty curl to it.

xxoo
jenni

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I don't need no stinkin design wall...

I don't need no stinkin design wall. I don't need no stinkin pattern!

Ok, well, after assessing these pictures, perhaps I do.

Yeah, the leopard throw is a bit distracting, but that's what fabric sticks to...

Here's a closeup of the embroidery. Need to press that a bit.

An experiement in fire colors...what pattern is that? (Jenni's crazy stitching.)

Yeah, I'm going back to half square triangles tomorrow! I don't do well with planning. I like to sew stuff together. I don't like to do math...

xxoo

jenni

I wish I had....

I wish I had a pretty screen porch. Or not even a pretty one since that wouldn't really fit in with the rest of Jenni-Land.

A word of caution: don't scour the internet for pictures of things you want. It will only end in heartache.

xxoo
jenni

Weekend Projects...

This weekend, I'm working on jenni20 designs orders and on stocking my new etsy boutique TheLaundryBag.

But I'm also really excited to be making 12.5x12.5 (unfinished) quilt blocks for Anna Maria Horner's Rainbow Around the Block project--giving something handmade to those who lost their keepsakes in the Nashville-area floods.

Click on the image above to find you how you can help!

xxoo
jenni

A few decades of awesomeness

So I've always known exactly what I wanted. I know, this will come as a big surprise. But sometimes, you can't always find what you want.

Enter my mom, my stylist.

Take a look at a few decades of (almost) vintage jenni fashion, all made by loving hands...

OK, so Mom did't make this shorts/skort/romper ensemble, but she did make the awesome sequined cuffs/belt/power headbands!

Yeah, my flapper costume was the greatest. Waaaay better than all other girls'. (Sorry Sally.) Even better, I wore it at age 12 when it was knee-length and age-appropriate and again at age 18/19 when it was...not knee length. :) (Although I'm not sure what I was thinking when I styled my hair thusly!)

Oh yeah, this Audrey Hepburn black formal was haute couture. Beat that, off-the-rack Emily!

I wish I had access to all the awesome photos of costumes my mom made for the years and years and years of my dance and theatre experiences...

I remember being so excited about designing this dress with my mom and watching it come to life. She even found sparkle mauve organza that was an exact match to the flowers in the print!

I know I didn't say it enough (or at all) when I was growing up, but thanks for being an awesome stylist! (And for looking the other way and not saying anything now when you see me in yet another ill-fitting knit dress and a cardigan.)

xxoo

jenni

11/30 NaBloPoMo

Day 11 Prompt: Tell us about your first kiss.

My mom reads this blog; I plead the 5th.


xxoo
jenni

10/30 National Blog Posting Month

Day 10 Prompt: If you could go back in time and meet your 16-year-old self, what three things would you tell yourself?

1. Hahahaaaa. Yup, this is your non-16-year-old self. Go ahead, laugh a bit more; I can take it.

2. You're hot. I know you don't believe it, but take a look at your legs, girl.

3. Don't stop believing. (And this was sooooooo before *Glee* stole the music of my life.)

(This is a publicity photo for a play I was in around my 16th year.)

xxoo

jenni

Big Changes and Growing Pains and the Expansion of the Empire

As I approach my Etsy-versary, I realize that jenni20 designs started as a purveyor of fabulous travel accessories. But then it pushed out a bit here, and out a bit there, and, before I knew it, I had a hodge-podge of items.

Back in April an idea for expansion hit me, but I haven't been able to act on it until now. (Schooooooool's out for summer!) Thus The Laundry Bag is born, or launched, or set out to conquer the housewares world....or at least a tiny part of it. Hopefully both shops will come out on the other end streamlined and more fabulous.

In the next few weeks, I'll be working on shop makeovers: jenni20 designs will focus on travel accessories and gifts (travel laundry bags, shoe bags, lingerie bags, and passport covers); The Laundry Bag will focus on everyday items (larger laundry bags, pillows, handkerchiefs, and fancy hand towels).

Wish me luck!

xxoo
jenni

9/30 NaBloPoMo

Prompt 9: Japanese lore suggests that if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will come true. What would your wish be, and what would you be willing to do 1,000 times to get it?

Well, these National Blog Posting Month prompts just get personal-er and personal-er.

I suppose I'd say that my wish now would be to have a perfectly-kept and presented home. Of course, if I folded 1,000 paper cranes (or their equivalents), then I'd certainly have an even bigger mess on my hands.

Alas, the practical Jenni must say: I'd wish for a healthy and fit body. And, practical-er and practical-er, I'd have to exercise 1,000 hours to achieve this (possibly more).

xxoo
jenni

8/30 NaBloPoMo

Day 8 Prompt: You've just been given a million dollars. You are not allowed to keep it or give it to anyone you know personally. What do you do with it and why?

What do I do with it? I give it to my dad to invest because he knows about that kind of stuff. Then, maybe after it's accrued (sp?) some interest and be really useful (because a million dollars, yes, is a lot of money, but it's not really that much money), I'd like to set up a foundation.

What would my foundation fund? Good question. What would I name it? Better question.

Any suggestions?

xxoo
jenni

NaBloPoMo day 7

Do I owe an apology to anyone?

Sheesh, what kind of prompt is this? This is a blog, not therapy.

Yes, I owe all 40-some odd blog followers an apology for having to read this.

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Hooray for SewSweetStitches

Happy ETSYVERSARY to Melissa over at SewSweetStitches! Melissa is one of my first etsy and Twitter friends--and one of the first vendors I purchased an item from.

I promised her last night I would throw her a blog party--but Blogger has been cantankerous since last evening. So here's an abbreviated surprise (or not so surprise) party.

I woke up early, the first morning I didn't have to be at work at 7:45, and worked on a prototype for her much-requested oilcloth coupon cozie thingie--since, in her words, she won't need my fabulous passport covers. (Never say never!)

So this is a big hot mess. I have a few more engineering type ideas for it. But Melissa, I'm going to send this to you; I want you to carry it around, figure out what you'd like done differently, and then I'll make a real and fabulous one. :)

the inside--would you rather have red polkadot? and would you like a divider?


Do you want a snap or loop closure?

Ready to brave TARGET, the supermarket, and beyond!

Ok, break it, sista! :)

xxoo

jenni

6/30 NaBloPoMo

Still no prompt. Here's Mr. Poodle instead.



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No Day 5 NaBloPoMo Prompt?

Boo to that. You expect me to be creative? On a Saturday?

Please. (read: puh-leeeeeze)

My car read 120 when I first went out to it this afternoon. (Fires of hell.)

Then the light at Northwest Highway and Boedecker was out. WHAT? Get some po-po out to direct traffic! Putting up little four-way-stop signs at that intersection is just inviting death to come by and stay a while.

I blame this all on a fruitless fabric-shopping episode this morning. Well, that and the 4000000 days of 90-degree temperatures. I'm really not cut out for this.

xxoo

jenni

What a pretty etsy FP

4/30 NaBloPoMo

Today's prompt: What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of your father?

An image of my dad, sitting in his recliner, reading the newspaper.

That's it. That's the first thing that pops into my mind. Haven't seen that tableaux in many years, but, nevertheless...

I would like to wear this on the last day of school.

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3/30 or are there 31 days in June?

NaBloPoMo Day 3: Define "freedom."

Aw man, I hate this prompt. The only thing running round is, like mice on never-ending wheels o' the mind, "freedom's just another word for nothin left to lose..."

I love me some Janis, but I'm not sure I agree with that.

And I'm not really sure I know what freedom is. As humans living within a social hierarchy, I think we all have obligations, guilt, whatever you want to call it, built into us. I've never felt as though I were totally free of this. I'm deeply endebted to my family, I have a strong work ethic, and I am a good citizen. I'm a rule follower.

Although I'm pretty sure I'm spoiled and bratty, I do think most of the time I think of others. I always calculate how my actions will affect other people. I'm always shocked by the people at work who seem to thrive on making others' projects 1000000 times more difficult than they could be, simply because they can. I think I constantly think: "oooh, but if I do that, then so-and-so will have to do this..."

It may not be a voice that rings loud, but it is always there.

Oh dear, I’m about to get patriotic and religious on y’all, so I’ll cut this post short. No dogmatic expiations here.

xxoo
jenni

Day Two NaBloPoMo

Today's prompt: What's your favorite poem? (And if you don't have one, why?)

This is like naming a favorite child, singling out one star in the night sky, deciding if snickerdoodles or chocolate chip cookies are the best...

If you don't know, I spend my days floating in a world of poetry. I teach English. I love reading. I always have. In fact, didn't I already post about a Tennyson poem? I believe I did...

So instead of narrowing it down, I'm going to list some lovely poets and poems for you to read. If you're lucky, I'll even link so you can enjoy them today. This is by no means a definitive list. I think I am breaking out into a cold sweat just knowing how many wonderful poets and poems I've not included...

Elizabeth Bishop

Eavan Boland

A.E. Housman

Lucille Clifton

Arthur Rimbaud

Adrienne Rich

And the poem I found terribly romantic as a young girl... read it and you'll understand.

xxoo
jenni

Flight of the Conchords Tape of Love (sticky stuff)

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0rtaDDSvxY&feature=youtube_gdata

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Mod Life has fashion plates!

Check out the awesome Mod Life post about Fashion Plates Fashion Designer...

I didn't remember there was a NKOTB one!!!

http://blog.modcloth.com/2010-02-17-the-possibilities-were-endless

National Blog Posting Month NaBloPoMo

Yeah, I wrote it: NaBloPoMo.

My June challenge is to blog each day, at least once a day. I'll use the NaBloPoMo prompt for the first post.

Today's prompt: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I know this might come as some shock to many of you, but when I was a little girl I wanted to be "a-fashion-designer-in-Paris." Why punctuated thusly? Well, because that is how I said it. As if the words were not independent of each other. Because, after all, how could you possibly be a fashion designer anywhere other than gay Paris (gay-Pair-eeee)?

How did I come up with "a-fashion-designer-in-Paris" since I was a little critter growing up on the wild West Texas plains? Good question. That's just what I always remember saying. I'm not sure when it changed to "I wanna be on Broadway." Perhaps after I discovered that I had no talent for drawing and the fine arts--except for silly doodles--and that performing arts were more my style?

Who knows.

Alas, I have been to Paris, but not lived there.

Do you remember that 80s toy "fashion plates, fashion designer"? I always wanted that. I think it was the one toy never purchased for me. Who knows. Had I the toy that allowed me to make embossings of high fashion, well, who knows where I'd be now...

xxoo
jenni