Birthday Fun

My ideal birthday celebration would include art, food, fabric and friends of course! This weekend I got to enjoy all those things because I planned a belated birthday fun day for myself  and think I will schedule it for January next year as well. You need something to get you out of the Christmas doldrums lol

Here's what we did! I've been looking forward to the Kehinde Wiley exhibit at the Modern Museum of Art, for quite a while. I had seen a couple pieces of his work there before a few years ago for the first time. I was captivated by his use of pattern and photo realistic portraits. Here's me with my friends and some of my favorite pieces from the show

The painting with her back turned to the viewer and this last one with the blue flowers are my favorites :)

If you are interested in his process, I highly recommend this pbs documentary that is about this very exhibit it was kinda cool, to know the steps that go into the finished piece and to see which past works of art he reimagines and gets inspiration from.

Then we tried a fun burger place called Rodeo Goat!  The burgers are huge and have fun and I tersting toppings and sauces, and homemade chips and tasty fries. They gave veggie and turkey burgers too, lots of options sure to please everyone.
I also saw a Great Dane wearing a purple sweatshirt for a human lol it was so cute and hilarious at the same time. This is my sketch of her just had to document it! 

Then we went to cabbage rose, a fabric store that is probably the best one in Ft. Worth, in my opinion.  fabric as far as the eye can see,  mostly quilting cotton, all the popular designers, Amy butler, mica, etc. and they have coated canvas, flannel, fleece in awesome prints and they have patterns and notions too! I'll quit gushing here's their website take a look for yourself. I could spend hours in there pouring over every bolt and dreaming of possible projects :) ps and by the way they are having an end of year sale 35% off ;)

Here's what I got, I'm really obsessed with floral as it turns out both in fabric and in art, I think the kehinde exhibit inspired my purchase :)

I hope to make some skirts sewn to a store bought knit top. I've been saying that for years but I really want this year to be forward moving and actually doing things I want to do instead of being afraid to fail.... More on that later.  What is your ideal day?

New year new projects

Hi Everyone! I hope y'all had a Merry Christmas with your loved ones! I had a great time with my family and I'm so glad to have a couple days off just to rest and relax. Even though this year has been very difficult at times, I have been reminded how significant are the everyday things we sometimes take for granted, and for that I will be more mindful and forever grateful. I will happily greet 2014, a new year full of promise :)

my tiny tree :)

  I am very excited for 2014 because I have some new ideas and projects that I can't wait to work on.
 I have been wanting to get iPad for quite awhile now and I finally decided to take the plunge :)
I have started sketching and I'm really excited to start experimenting and develop new techniques.

winter bunny

 Also I have been working on some new ideas with fabric and  I'm super excited to share more about this later.

 I have been struggling trying to work out how projects would fall into place and I finally had some light bulb moments and things are finally starting to move forward :)

I feel like Gru in this awesome scene from Despicable Me.

Are you excited for 2014? Do you have any fun plans for the new year?

Candy Corn Cutie

In anticipation for Fall, I've started thinking about Halloween drawings and creatures, and I was playing with the idea of a cute little candy corn.

I was thinking about how playful and fun she looked with appendages but at the last minute decided to go against it when I whipped up my plush prototype.

This was my first experience with printable fabric, it feels like a canvas type material. Just print, peel off the paper backing and your ready to sew. I'm so glad my friend, let me have some of this fabric to experiment with. I think I'm kind of addicted now, and I'm thinking about more creatures and animals and maybe seeing how things come out on Spoonflower, for better wear and tear and color representation.

I used some candy corn fabric for the back side, I got on clearance a few months ago at Cabbage Rose, they have a great selection of everything, I love to go there and explore and dream about possible projects.

back view

Anyway I'm excited for Fall and for Halloween, what Fall projects have you been working on lately?

The little things

Going through difficult stressful times is never fun, but lately I've been trying to focus on the little things that make me happy.

I chopped off my hair and got new earrings

ombre purple awesome-ness

Because of our mild winter, flowers are exploding with blooms, some things haven't bloomed in years.

snap dragon

an odd bloomer the butterflies like

happy hydrangea

poppy surprise :)

I got to hang out with my friend and go fabric shopping for some new projects, that I will hopefully work myself up too.....soon :) It's so fun to geek out over fabric with someone that loves making stuff too.

Also we have Killdeer birds in our parking lot at work, they come around this time of year, even though they also call the beach home. I was pleasantly surprised to see babies in our parking lot this year, they have the cutest little walk and they shake their little tails. Yes, I am easily amused.

SO FLUFFY!

And this weekend I got to see Dirt's latest succulent offering. A mossy succulent turtle!! So freaking cute :)

Hope you are having a good week and enjoying the small things :)

I almost forgot

I forgot to mention another great part of my day on Friday. I went to my favorite pie place and tried a new amazing holiday pie, Merry Berry. The sugary crust and tart cranberries made for a delicious contrast. It was still nice outside so we got to sit out on the porch and enjoy the sunshine, and now it's very cold outside lol

picture from eporiumpies.com

They also have other holiday pies, a coconut custard topped with coconut shavings appropriately named the snowball and a spiced chai buttermilk pie called buttermilk blizten. When and if I try another holiday variety, you all will be the first to know :)

I also got to watch a offbeat indie movie that's been in my netflix queue forever! Ruby Sparks, the tale of a lonely writer with writer's block who's dream girl he begins to write about comes to life.

The movie features on of my favorite actors Paul Dano, you may remember him as the misfit brother who takes a vow of silence in Little Miss Sunshine. His dream girl is played by his real life girlfriend
Zoe Kazan who actually wrote the screenplay. It's a somewhat interesting fantasy about what would happen if your dream person came to life. Would it be everything you ever wanted? What about after you got used to each other and normal life crept in? It reminded me a lot of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind which I really enjoy. It just kind of reminds you that everyone has their quirks and issues and it's a choice to make the best of it together.

On a random fabric side note, my awesome sewing buddy Jenn has the cutest little boy who happens to love Perry the platypus  and I found some great flannel fabric for some pajama pants! I know she'll do a great job, she's the best seamstress I know. I wish I had more patience to sew clothes. I can't wait to see him rockin' his flannel pants :)

the print kinda looks like this

I also finally got to see the Neiman Marcus Target collaboration in person at my local Target, as usual with most of the collaborations some items looked less impressive in person than in the stylized photography online. I like the Carolina Herrera notebook set but $20 is a little pricey, maybe if they go sale but we'll see.

Also the "home is where the heart is" print is in the shop now. Ready to personalized :)

What about you? Done anything new or exciting? Seen any good movies? Fell in love with something from the latest Target collaboration? I'd love to hear about it :)

Looking forward to the weekend

I always love to visit Ft. Worth, my favorite museum is there.

lovely view

 There is also a huge antique mall, I love getting lost looking through antiques, especially jewelry.
 One of my favorite fabric shops, Cabbage Rose, is also in Ft. Worth, they have so many different kinds of fabric: cotton, flannel, corduroy and laminated cotton, you know to make rain coats, or table cloths out of. Awesome! I'm like a kid in a candy store.

Laminated soul blossom peacock feather rose print

 But this weekend, I am going to local craft show, Funky Finds. They have local artists and a pet adoption area, it's great, this will be my third year to go, and I can't wait :)

I think I'm going to go see the new James Bond movie this weekend too and maybe stop by my favorite pie place for a slice of Druken Nut or Lord of the Pies.

beautiful and delicious

Also I've added my sewing print to the shop and Ben the Bat!

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!