My twin, Jorjah-B, and I went to a lovely little resale shop in Chicago two weeks ago in the first of her two weekend visits. She found this sweater, yet decided not to buy it for its wool had shrunk. I thought it might be worth buying to try to stretch, for it was such a great sweater, mainly for its buttons. However, not for $10.
The next weekend, I returned to the same store, and the sweater was still there. Now marked $8, and all clothing was 1/2 off. $4 for vintage buttons. Worth it! I did try to wash and stretch, but to no avail. Incidentally, I did get the buttons out of it. What's even better is that night, I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. There's a scene where buttons are swept across a table by Benjamin, and gathered in a jar. A button identical to these is amidst that pile. That made my $4 buttons priceless!!! The movie is a must-see, by the way.
I may try to use these on another sweater or piece of clothing, or possibly make another jewelry piece. Whatever I do with them, I'll be sure to post about it!
This was a challenge idea from Shutter Sisters that I saw on Simply Dipped. She has a few shots like this, and I thought it was an easy and fun assignment. Took this on my "Civic" camera, and not the Mercedes.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
It's just before noon on a Sunday, the Sunday I was supposed to find a way toward Rockford IL to see and hear a perfect stranger sing the Christmas song my Mom wrote many years ago. I didn't make it, and while feeling a sense of guilt, I tried to rationalize my absence with the busy week I just wrapped up, and the busy week ahead. Trying to relax and get well from a flu that's been hanging on for a week now, I started up my computer to work on Angel Cake, and my new blog, Ethereal (see more below).
Shortly into working on Ethereal, I stepped away, but the music continued to play. And a song, which plays now as you read (I Am by Nicole Nordman), randomly came on. It's a song that reminds me very much of you, Mom. One that Ginger played for the family on your birthday in your honor. She asked us all to find a song that depicts or pays tribute to you. This is the song she chose. And it is so appropriate for our Mother.
Feeling even more guilt, now, I grabbed my phone to text my Mom and tell her how sorry I was that I wasn't there. I have the iPhone, and if you have one, you know the texts back and forth are saved on the hard drive all the way back to the very first text, so I can read all past conversations with any one individual in one page. Additionally, when I create a new text, the latest text between the person I am texting and myself displays right above the window for the new text. In this case, when I chose Sharon (Mom), the last text that appeared was€€ a text from her to me with two simple words, "I AM." It was in response to my request for prayer about a bad week I was having at work. So by now, you've probably listened to the words of the song "I Am" that make this post so worthy of writing about. It's too coincidental.
Another thing you know about (or maybe you don't) if you have an iPhone, is that you can take a picture of any screenshot on your phone. I've attached the screenshot for the viewer to share.
She's MOM, which spelled up-side-down makes WOW!
I love her.
She is! And here's more about the new blog. Ever since we were young, my sister and I have loved to create. From drawing to coloring, to imagining and playing house. From changing our room around once a week to see what arrangement could look better than the last, to changing our parents' living room around...
After high school, our creative paths took different routes. Jorjah-B went into graphic design, and Angel Cake found a creative outlet through photography. Since then, it seems our paths have merged again. With both having a love for interior design, photography, and all things creative, we've recently begun to brainstorm about how we can use our "wonder-twin-power" to create as a team. Recently we cooperatively came up with the idea of a team photography blog of dreamy shots--all images ethereal.
There you will see our work, and the works of guests we think are dreamy.
This all became a product of ideas in the making, and a weekend of fun and picture taking. For the banner, we searched and searched for the perfect photo. I was searching for a mysterious picture of a bike that I'd taken a couple of years back (took the picture, not the bike). I couldn't find it, which was a blessing because we found a better shot--one I'd taken just days before moving out of my Hyde Park top floor vintage apartment that I loved. It depicts my love for decor and for photography. And we think it's rather delicate.
The first two shots were taken this weekend...by us. The first was taken by me at a coffee shoppe called Lovely. A delicate cafe with delicious treats. The second was taken the night before by Jorjah-B, of me, after the opera, in my condo. Very vaporous. You'll just have to go and see. And keep checking back. We'll be there daily (hopefully).
Jorjah-B, you asked us what our perfect day would be. It seems to me there are so many scenarios that could make up a perfect day. But I'll just describe the one I'm having today. It's almost perfect.
Waking to a warm-nosed pup-dog named Blanco.
Lounging over to the kitchen for a cup of warm Russian tea.
6 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
2 sticks cinnamon
8-10 cloves
1 quart pineapple juice
1 quart orange juice
1-3 ounce can frozen lemon concentrate-undiluted
1/2-1 cup sugar
Steep tea and spices in boiling water and remove. Add sugar. Mix juices and lemon concentrate in large pitcher. Add tea mixture. Dilute to taste.
{it's better if you make it the night before, then you can just warm, pour and drink}
{also, don't stick hard and fast to this recipe. do like i do and just throw everything in together to your taste.}
and a toasted whole grain English muffin with melted butter and raspberry jam for breakfast.
Checking blogland while I sip my tea, while also working on several pieces of jewelry as I become inspired. and while listening to a song from my list of favorites on my $150 surround-sound Logitech PC speakers. Some of the best sound you'll ever get for the money-"I think you should get them."
Without any pressure to hurry along, I go to Angel Cake and work on my blog. Then I head over to: It's Just How I See Things and Jorjah-B.
{I always thought I was the photographer, but it looks like my sister's little camera has beat out my new Nikon. I've got some catching up to do.}
A little cat nap with Daisy and Q is nice. Daisy really knows how to take a nap.
So does Q...
It's almost lunch time. A cup of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect lunch for an almost perfect rainy day like today.
The only thing that would make it absolutely perfect is if my Papa was here to sup with me like the day he visited me in my Hyde Park kitchen--a cold day very much like today, not too long before he went to heaven, and if I were granted the knowledge that it would be one of my last moments alone with him.
We sat, ate tomato soup and laughed at this table after seeing the highly anticipated Frank Lloyd Wright home down the street.
The tomato soup mug above was a great find at one of my favorite resale/antique shops in Chicago. I snatched it up as it brought back that memory of my Dad.
Now for some play time with the chillins.
And some hugs and some kisses.
It's about 2:00PM, and time for another nap?
No, that would be irresponsible of me. And so cat-like.
So, I check out Donald Miller's blog. A good substitute for reading one of his prized books, but since they are still in boxes, I will visit his blog.
And all I have in the house to read are a few books (about ten) that I've started and not finished. Any one of these would add to my perfect day.
But I've chosen:
Here's an excerpt, a poem.
Friendship
Friendship needs no studied phrases,
Polished face, or winning wiles;
Friendship deals no lavish praises,
Friendship dons no surface smiles.
Friendship--pure, unselfish friendship,
All through life's allotted span,
Nurtures, strengthens, widens, lengthens,
Man's relationship with man.
...or woman to woman. or man to woman. you've got it, don't you?
A perfect day is telling me it's time to think about a good old film, like My Fair Lady,
or Little Women (the Winona Ryder version)
while curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea poured through a gift from a lovely friend.
Some goat cheese and crackers for a snack, along with a good glass of cheap wine, and a great scented candle
a glance out my window at my fantastic view every now and then,
and I'm done for the evening!
The only way the day could have gotten any more perfect is if I'd spent a couple hours at a thrift store or two, and found a great pair of shoes,
and had sushi with my Mom,
and gotten a sweet and sentimental gift from a dear friend. Or better yet, was blessed to spend uninhibited time with that friend.
My twin, Jorjah-B, and I went to a lovely little resale shop in Chicago two weeks ago in the first of her two weekend visits. She found this sweater, yet decided not to buy it for its wool had shrunk. I thought it might be worth buying to try to stretch, for it was such a great sweater, mainly for its buttons. However, not for $10.
