Happy Birthday, Ugly Bird!

This blog is one year old! Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, looking, & writing me back!



Remember these? Let's do that giveaway! Leave me a comment about Ugly Bird. What do you like? What would you rather I left out? I know a lot of you followed me over from the days of Livejournal, is there anything I used to post there that you miss?

Most importantly, don't forget to tell me which of the crocheted collars you want!

Winner will be chosen via random number generator on February 28th!

Much Better

Alright then, a few simple alterations to that dress & it is now possibly one of my favorites! As planned, I took in the sides, the sleeves, & took up the hem. It needed less fuss than I initially thought it would so this was actually a really quick fix! Also, I don't really like skinny fabric belt things so I swapped that out for a belt I bought at the same store (good finds that day) which is much thicker, more contrasting, more my taste.


I did want to leave it relatively loose & long because I felt those were things that made the dress what it was. At any rate, I'm quite pleased with this little alteration.

Hello Seahorse!

If anyone is my "friend" on last.fm, you will know this was coming. I cannot cannot absolutely will never stop to their album, "Bestia". I saw them not too long ago at El Rey (Pilar Diaz opened, she is way cute!) & was hooked! I danced my little heart out that night & the creativity & love was so contagious, that I couldn't wait to get home & do something, anything! Of course I wanted to sleep first. But anyway, I just got so much energy from being there & it was great, & I really think you should give them a listen!

we can make it work.

Haven't done one of these in ages! But I had a bit of time on a Friday afternoon & wanted to make a mix for a friend.

Click here to listen

This Can be Rebuilt

While back home I did some shopping with my friends and we ended up going to one of my very favorite thrift stores. One dress caught my eye, but it looked like it needed work so I kind of passed it by a few times. Eventually I grabbed it, it has some great details like




cute fabric, and really adorable details on the sleeves and neck.

The major problem is the shape is kind of unappealing, or maybe nonexistent


However, it did come with a little belt thing which made me realize that all I really need to do is take up the hem & taper in the sleeves a bit. It shall be rebuilt! I just need to go buy some cream thread!

Based on a True Story

All done! I intended to put this in a frame when it was complete, but the frame I had broke so now I've got to find another one. Luckily most thrift stores have decent frames around for cheap! Anyway, I'm quite pleased with how this came out, especially since it proved to be a really tedious little project!

I think next time I would really love to mix embroidered areas with ones that are just done in ink. Maybe a larger piece?

Nearly Done

Just a few more things to do! I actually really like how the pen on the fabric looks next to embroidered areas. Might be something to consider for a future project!

Bootie

I don't know if I have ever mentioned Bootie Mashups before. At any rate, I love a good mashup! A lot of the music I listen to is very folksy & slow, but sometimes when you are getting dressed for a night out, doing something active, wanting to dance, or whatever, that kind of music just doesn't suit the mood.

I am particularly fond of Bootie Mashups because the DJs do a fantastic job, while I don't love every track, there are several that I adore! While I generally am unfamiliar with current popular songs (or don't like some of them), they are almost always mashed with something familiar & loved. I download their "best of" mix every year so if you haven't gotten a copy of the 2010 mix, go get it!

I'll share one of the tracks that I adore mostly because it makes me laugh really hard every time.

Where This Bird Grew Up

There's some kind of special magic in my hometown. I don't know where it comes from. Maybe it is in the dirt. Or in the water that melts down from the mountains into the valley in the spring. It could be the hum of all the ghosts left behind from all of us who spent time there or a result of being in close proximity from something as beautiful as Yosemite.

I don't know what it is, but I know the place where I grew up is unique. I am so glad to have grown up there even though it's the type of place that gets looked over. It isn't a city that usually receives love letters.

I don't think I will ever move back, but I know I will always visit. The central valley will always be special to me.

52 Pages of Love & Letting Go

http://www.blurb.com/books/1885252

If you remember, after finishing, "plant collectors in bolivia", I decided it would be a good idea to make a little book once a year. So, with the close of 2010, I have, "Love & Letting Go", a book of words, images, & drawings.

This book feels a little less light & a little less pure than plant collectors, but I feel that is appropriate. The first book was a bunch of things written over years where honestly, I didn't know about that much. "Love & Letting Go" is about the year when so many things changed. I do wish I had written more. Going back through various journals, I found a shift after moving from writing things for the sake of writing to writing things to stay organized. Instead of words to explain going ons, I only had words that reminded me where I needed to be & what I needed to get done. While I am pleased that I've been able to get more organized, I don't want to lose out on those other things!

I do plan on making a new book for 2011. I have no idea yet what it will be called or what it will contain, but I am excited to see what will happen this year!