Friday, March 4, 2011

Naps

I recently finished a major home improvement project- cushions for our window bench. This bench is more than 8 feet long with a split in the middle for storage box access, so this multi-step project was a bit daunting. Despite it being just 2 years old and finished with several coats of stain and poly, the top has definitely seen wear and tear-I hated how it looked. Daunting be dashed-I had to make this a functional piece of furniture.






On my recent trip to Boston, I discovered some amazing fabric in the remnant pile -4 1/2 yards of it- and snatched it up. I was just a bit short on yardage and incorporated an olive/tan suede as an accent.





Knowing these cushions would get serious use, I added a zipper for easy removal of the covers for washing or replacement. New item discovered: zipper by the YARD. Amazing invention.



I purchased some foam from E-bay, cut it to size with a bread knife and zipped up.



Why did we build in this bench anyway? Naps.



Obviously.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Passion for Trashion



It's that time of year again and I've been busy making, sewing, gluing, collecting, cutting and modeling for Teton Valley Community Recycling's Trash Bash.

Some of you might remember The Bottle Cap Dress. I wanted to make another dress and Maz suggested I use cardboard boxes from packaged food. I started cutting rectangles and planned to attach them in overlapping rows, to make a fringe-y flapper dress. I kept cutting and cutting and cutting...



and cutting. And then I cut some more.



My roommate Drew mentioned one night that if I made a vest out of cork, he would wear it in the Trashion Show. It took zero consideration to accept the challenge. I don't think Drew expected that.





More cutting. Corks were sliced in half and into disks with bread knives. We got away with only one minor injury.



It reminded me of one of my favorite Project Runway scenes where Zulema tells her partner to 'cry and cut.'



On a rainy day last year, I used some leftover fabric to sew some wine gift bags, with the Trash Bash in mind. They were very hard to give up!






There were some great items on the silent auction table, including mittens made out of old sweaters, a coat rack made out of old ski with pole handles to hang your jacket on (won by the Mayor of Driggs), a crazy beaded canister and a cigar box purse (the last 2 won by me!)



Back to the Trashion...



Drew admires his cork vest and channels his inner Zoolander.



Drew and I backstage at the Trashion Show, getting ready for the runway.

I was too busy making the dress to get some proper pics, but you can watch the video soon by tuning back in to this blog.

And more pics here.

My friend Jenny and I discussed creating a collection for next year and really kick things up a notch. Any ideas?

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Sounds like a leg massage.

I had a Skype date with a friend the other night and she asked me what I was doing for the weekend. Without even thinking about it, I reeled off the top of the activity list: ice skating, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and a little hockey for Maz.

The look on her face was incredulous, followed by a hearty giggle. "F!" she yelled to her husband, "Listen to all these sports E and Maz are doing this weekend..."

Sports? I never thought of the weekends like that- "full of sports"- but I suppose that's what it looks like. We're just trying to survive winter and have fun doing it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a leg massage.



All smiles after runs at Targhee.


Congaskate.


Skaters at the new ice rink.


Jenny and E enjoying a sheet of ice.


Quiet day on the Driggs Nordic Track.


Anna, Tater and Patches ripping the Driggs Nordic Track.


Self portrait after an XC ski.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Christmas Chaos: Old and New

Christmas 2010: full of old traditions and soon-to-be new ones.

Old: Legos for Maz


New: Taller Brothers


Old: Dueling Brothers


New: Dessert Sampler. Yum.


Old: Always a gorgeous presentation.


Old and New: Dinner in the North End and Holiday performance with Gayle and Jay. Rockettes. High kicks!








Old: Goofing.




New: New Year's Eve ice sculpture and fireworks in Portsmouth.


New: Xmas Swap! Refrigerated gifts!


Old: Basement pong.


New take on Old: A yard of snow.


Old: Lobstah for everyone else.


New: Hugs for Buella. She gave me a book. Subject: Cocktails.


New: Sledding.