What a day!

I wanted to (finally) write this post, a meme that Heather tagged me for forever ago, and to tell you about the fun James and I have been having. I was going to write it right after we got back from the library. Except that my car didn’t start. My car didn’t start because James left the light on, all weekend, because he likes to play with the lights, like I tell him not to, a million times. So, I’m a little frustrated, and not in the mood to say nice things about James, so that part of the post is lost forever (yeah, yeah, we danced, we laughed, did I mention he drained the battery on my car?).

On to the meme. So, I’m supposed to share six things about a friend I really love. Now, Heather didn’t specifically date this post, but it was in between two posts in early March, so I’m a wee bit late in getting to it. I’m really bad at the meme thing, and they poke and prod at my brain, “Hey, you have this meme to write.” So, short story long, I’m not passing it on, but feel free to pick it up if it strikes your fancy.

Also about this meme, most of my real life friends kind of know I have a blog, but don’t read it, by virtue of not knowing the address. There’s a couple of reasons for this. This time, I’ll try to keep it short: 1) I once had a real life acquaintance morph into cyber stalker, and 2) most of my real life friends don’t blog; I kind of think of it as a reciprocal relationship. I mean really, am I going to waste my gushing about someone and they’re not even going to see it? So, part of the reason I have been holding off on this meme is this:

I know, you are all overwhelmed. In case you are saying, “What the heck?” or some other stronger language version, here’s a bigger hint:

O.k., I’ll just come out and say it. They’re shorts, shorts that I sewed, from t-shirts, (using this tutorial), with help from the ever talented Marina (see, I’m getting to the meme), dye job by James.

O.k., six things I love about Marina:

1. She’s uber talented. She just has an artistic eye. I feel more artistic being around her.

2. She’s an amazing mom. Like #1, I’m more artistic around her, I’m a better mom around her too.

3. She’s not demanding. We both have busy schedules and it’s no problem to get together when we can (you know, I’m trying to say she’s not one of ”those” friends that thinks there’s something wrong if you’re not constantly checking in, without insulting anyone. Good thing my friends don’t read my blog :0 )

4. She lives consciously without being overbearing. 

5.  She gives freely, of herself, of her art, of her knowledge.

6. She supports her family, through everything. I have a lot of respect for that.

Now, more about my shorts, which I am inordinately proud of. I mentioned, when I discussed James’ quilt, that it had been years since I sewed. But, I was never much of a garment seamstress. Marina offered me sewing lessons (on her serger no less, drool). They are made from some of the gazillions of free t-shirts that Darren brings home from conferences and then stuffs into the closet. Two James dyed using a tie dye kit I got on clearance from Michael’s and the other two I painted.

The robot one was freehand, from a drawing James did a year or so ago. It was one of his first robot drawings and so had been saved as precious. The other I cut out as a stencil (I couldn’t find freezer paper so I used contact paper; I’ve since found freezer paper). And these are my first Project Spectrum Earth projects (earth colors being brown and green). While the two I painted barely pass the color test, they do pass the Earth theme. I’ve taken shirts lying around the house and turned them into useful garments, one of the reasons I’m so pleased with myself. And, they were free! Well, you know, except for the fact that I have  to have a serger now.