vegasandvenice - alter egos rejoice

This has shipped.

2010-07-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Yay! Simon let me order this wonderful magazine goodness. Now I have to find issues #1 & 2. Any ideas?

Isn't he a sweetheart? I can't wait till they get here. I need a distraction. I have been sick with what-turns-out-to-be a virus. Yesterday, Si made me go to prompt care, where they sent me off to the ER to be tested for Meningitis. 8 hours later they decided that they did not have to do a SPINAL TAP and let me go home. There was a collective sigh of relief. Lots of time is being spent in bed.

Hope you are having a lovely day (not in bed)! xox = cah.

Oh Sheesh. Seriously?

2010-07-14T23:02:00.001-07:00

I am so exhausted and I have been here all night and I am tired and my fish just died. Literally, just died. He was a betta and he couldn't get to the top of his tank for air, so we put him in a cup, but he was still to weak to make it, so we lifted him up for air and he took one last deep breath and died (betta's breath air).

Nothing seems to be going right since we moved to Illinois. Our puppy has mange, we took our cats to the vet and moments after we left, they both started having strange reactions and the little one lost her hearing (maybe a bad ear infection) and the baby started loosing his hair (maybe ring worm). Our three yellow snails died.

Really, we are good animal parents. In the last year though we made some major life decisions and I feel we did them wrong and I am sure we are being punished now. Also, the battery on my keyboard is dying, so I am forced to get some sleep. xox = cah :(

Laughter Seems Appropriate.

2010-07-14T17:46:00.001-07:00

Okay, so please feel free to laugh at me. I set up a word press blog with all the features I like, but it just seems to “dark” and “heavy” to me. I want to change the css, but you have to pay $14.95 to do it. Stupid me, I did not realize.

Would it be wrong to switch back to blogger? I will keep you updated! xox = cah.

Molly The Small.

2010-07-14T17:01:00.001-07:00

This is Molly. She is very small. She is only three months old. We have had her for 5 weeks and she is 5 times the size she was on the day we brought her home. She is growing by leaps and bounds and soon she will be Molly the Not-So-Small. So, I thought I better share her now while she still fits in a photo.

P.S. I am still changing things up, hope it’s not too annoying *smile* xox = cah.

Surprises!

2010-07-14T16:57:00.001-07:00

Yay! Babies!

I just found out that a sweet, wonderful, internet friend of mine is having a baby!

Must … make … baby … presents!

I can’t wait! What should I make for her? Is it going to be a boy or a girl? Better make goodies for both, just in case! I found a few lovely free patterns at Ravelry. Now to pick one … or you know … a few! Fun!! xox = cah.

Hello Again!

2010-07-14T16:38:00.001-07:00

My name is Christine Ann Haynes.

I love my blog, but suffering from carpal tunnel, I allowed it to fall into dis-repair. I am making a fresh start. It might be slow going, but I hope you’ll stick with me. xox = cah.

Blurg..

2008-06-09T11:36:00.002-07:00

This is a test. You know, I set this website up soooo long ago that I can not remember how I made it, which is particularly un-useful when it seems to be having problems. Hugs. xox=vv.

Taking Up A Collection.

2008-02-06T13:24:00.002-08:00

This is one of the posters in our collection of Jason Munn Screenprints. I fell in love with The Small Stakes a couple years ago and introduced Simon to his work this September at Bumbershoot's Flatstock. We picked these out and had ten of them wrapped up a few minutes after we found his booth. We tried to restrain ourselves since we only have 500 square feet of wall space. I think we did pretty well. What do you think? Hugs. xox=vv.

Oooh I Want To Live Here.

2007-12-05T12:03:00.002-08:00

Oh my goodness. It has been so long since I have written anything here. I love this space, but I simply have not been on the computer in a few months. My phone has internet capabilities, so I can check in on all the inspiration, but not communicate as well. Kind of ironic.

I love the GMC Concept PAD (searching will bring a good amount of results). It is part vehicle, part home and part telecommunications center. My updated concept of Utopia is a city that can re-configure itself. Traditional homes take up so much space. Wouldn't it be great if our homes were mobile (mobile homes, but not mobile homes. Ya know what I mean?) and we could travel between natural, beautiful communal spaces. Just a thought.

Here's a bit of info about how it works: How Stuff Works - GMC Pad

Also thinking of you. Hugs. xox=vv.

Certainly Not A Secret, But Worth Knowing All The Same.

2007-09-26T13:04:00.002-07:00

Fall is here. My days of summer dreaming are at an end and I long for the cozy, busy days that signal the swift approach of the holidays. I've been meaning to tell you so many things. I have been in the blogo-sphere admiring the handiwork of my friends. Silently, I've been sympathizing upon news of their sorrows and celebrating upon news of their joys. My heart is with you.

That being said, one of the first things I need to mention is a crazy good deal from Joann's. I did not mean to keep it from you (and you may already know), I just forgot. Regularly, I think even monthly, they put an entire brand of patterns (ie. Simplicity, Vogue, Butterick) on sale for $1.99 a piece. So, as soon as the Simplicity patterns went on sale, I bought each-and-every Built By Wendy pattern for a whopping $20.00. Normally, they would have cost $150.00, so I saved $130.00 !!!

That leaves a lot of money for fabric and I hope that someone out there finds this newsworthy or useful. Hugs. xox=vv.

A Bit Of Time Away.

2007-07-27T18:37:00.002-07:00

Like so many others I find myself entranced and exhausted by the summer sun. Things are going swimmingly, but I am afraid I am having a hard time keeping up with all of you lovely people. So, I will be away a bit.

You can still find me at Simple Acts Of Green. As a matter of fact, we just posted a "quick chat" there a few days ago. Check it out.

Lastly, if you need me for anything please comment or email and I will respond a.s.a.p. Hugs. xox=vv.

Un-Planned.

2007-07-17T11:27:00.002-07:00

Our friends got this adorable puppy (Chico) a few days ago and sadly had to go out of town this week. So, I get to puppy sit. Yay!

Isn't he adorable? He is a bit of a handful, but he is so sweet and cuddly and all-in-all pretty well behaved. Although, the little one is chewing my laptop ... again.

We have been so incredibly busy this summer, but more about that later. I am thinking of you and looking forward to spending some catch up time with all of you and your lovely blogs. Hugs. xox=vv.

This Is Not A PhotoBlog. Really.

2007-06-25T11:16:00.002-07:00

Really. It is supposed to be a craft blog. I do stuff. I make stuff. I have projects that I totally get involved in. I don't know why I have such a hard time sharing it with you. I think there are just so many talented people out there that I get overwhelmed. My little projects just can't compare.

I am going to keep trying. I am nearly finished with my Amy Butler Vintage Backpack Tote. There should be a lot of little matching projects in the future. My Moms gets here on Saturday for a week long visit and I can't wait! We are going to sew, sew, sew!

Thinking of you! Hugs. xox=vv.

Simply Beautiful.

2007-06-21T19:03:00.002-07:00

Hello lovelies.

Quite a long time ago, Dawbis and I agreed to a trade. It took me a while to get my part of the trade to her. She should have penalized me, but instead she promptly sent a huge package of the most beautiful creations.

I think this postbook might be one of my absolute favorites of all time, although it is almost impossible with the line-up of her awe-inspiring creations. I can not help it though. There is something about the book format that makes it feel like a little secret world between the cover pages.

Isn't she the very best ever? Do you want to hear the most mind-blowing part? This is not even half of all the wonderful things that she has sent to me. Can you believe it? I've been planning to share all of this Dawbis goodness with you for months now, but I put all of my favorite things in our Security Deposit Box while we went through all of our moves. We are finally re-united. Hugs. xox=vv.

P.S. I had to edit and remove many of the photos from this page because they were not showing up. I am not sure what went wrong, but I hope to fix it in the near future. I think you can still see the other photos on my Flickr page.

Simple Acts Of Green.

2007-06-11T11:15:00.003-07:00

Oh hello lovelies! I am very excited to tell you about a wonderful new project that I am so terribly pleased to be a part of. Miss Dawbis (that delightful girl) has started a new blog called Simple Acts of Green.

To quote her very well (per usual) written introduction "[Simple Acts of Green is] a blog dedicated to sharing the stories and lives of people who are making a difference to preserve our planet, one small step at a time."

We (Dawn, Laura, Jeska, Diane and I) would love it if you would stop by, say hello, and share a story with us. These girls are incredible and I would certainly recommend dropping in, if only to read their bios.

I hope you will stick around for more though and check in often for new articles and interviews. See you there! Hugs. xox=vv.

The Books And The Crafty Babes.

2007-05-28T12:58:00.003-07:00

In barely over three months I will be turning 30. I am excited about it and this year I decided that I really want to celebrate (my 16th, 18th and 21st were small immediate family brunches). I thought about having a birthday party (haven't done that since I was very, very young) but all of my friends and family live in another state.

Last year we went to Bumbershoot (choose year 2006) to see the incredible Jose Gonzalez and the Rollerderby championships and oh, oh let us not forget the Indie Market. We planned on going this year (especially now that we are just a minute's drive away) but it wasn't quite as celebration-worthy as I had hoped for this particular birthday.

Then, I saw the line-up. The Shins, Panic! At The Disco and my newest obsession The Avett Brothers are playing. I decided they were both bands that a thirty year old would see and of course a thirty year old would not even consider missing the Indie Market! So we went a little crazy for our birthdays (Simon's is the same week) and bought Platinum Passes for this years event!

A history of indie rock icons: The Books

Since forming in an abandoned laundromat in Seattle, The Books broke into the indie rock scene in 2007 with their debut album, Off The Books. The band's latest album, All Booked Up, merges Simon Le Simon's nonsensical melodies with lo-fi Brit-Pop to somehow pump out some seriously inspired crowd pleasers. With standout tracks like "Adventure," already certified platinum in Europe, The Books can count on loads of future success.

A history of techno icons: Crafty Babes

Forged in the back alleys of Hoboken, New Jersey, Crafty Babes exploded onto the techno scene in 1977 with their debut album, Presser Foot. The band's latest album, Serger Blues, blends Vee Vee's ominous growls with jaw-rattling drums to produce a bevy of pulse-pounding scorchers. With standout tracks like "Stitches Too Loose," the music of Crafty Babes appeals to techno fans and non-techno fans alike.

Oh yeah, and we made up these super cool band bio's. I made "The Books" for Si (that is his nickname) and he made the "Crafty Babes" for me (isn't he cute?). You can make your own here (and I would love to read them). Have fun! Hugs. xox=vv.

Like A Breath Of Fresh Air.

2007-05-22T11:48:00.003-07:00

Now lovelies, I did not mention it but I've been working with approximately 9 minutes of laptop battery life for longer than I can remember. My battery was recalled so I finally got a new one (free of charge. yay!) Working on the computer was a real hassle because the cheap replacement battery charger that I had just would not stay connected. So today with a new battery charger and a new battery I have 3 and a half hours of battery!!! That is 3 hours and 21 minutes more than I have had in at least 6 months!

I have my sewing machine out (we got a little table last week) and I am working on a new project. I switched from the Coats thread to the Mettler thread and now I am having stitch problems. If you have any suggestions, I could really use them.

This Amy Butler Vintage Backpack Tote is for an expectant mother who lives with her husband and adorable one year old in Jerusalem. I figured it would be nice to have a backpack with two little ones in tow. I am also planning to make her a matching head scarf and maybe some toys or blankets for the kids. We will see. The fabrics above are the outer main panels, lining and outer side panels of the bag. Hey Hugs! xox=vv.

Oh Martha, You Naughty Girl!

2007-05-18T23:43:00.002-07:00

Well, of course, I have jumped on the Martha bandwagon. Wait till you see how crazy I went! We are watching Pan's Labyrinth and I have to hurry back, but I wanted to share this with you.

This is Martha's Photo Family Tree project re-done with a beach theme. I made it for my mother-in-law. It is not completely finished here, but I had to make preperations for wrapping and thought I better take a quick picture of it before I get too far along.

There were pluses and minuses with this project. Let's start with the pluses. It is quick and easy and even if it is not perfect I think it still comes out relatively pretty. The minuses make up a slightly longer list but it is still totally worth it. Here they are though.

1. The Martha label is glued on to the decorative frame so be very careful when removing it. Mine marred the decorative side pulling off some of the finish and I had to sand the whole thing to disguise the marks.

2. Martha tells you to use approximately 26 collectors pins for this project. However, only 6 are provided. They are WAY too long for the box though and if you cut them with wire cutters to a more appropriate length they snag the fabric on their way in.

3. Packaging is lovely but not terribly easy to open and maintain.

4. Martha does not specify which thickness of double sided adhesive foam dots to use.

This project is still an awful lot of fun and certainly worth working around the incredibly minute snafus (hmm have not ever written that word before). If you try this project and have any questions feel free to send me an e-mail.

Tomorrow, we are off for a day trip to B.C. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Hugs. xox=vv.

Projects Coming Soon.

2007-05-17T22:17:00.002-07:00

None as incredible as these. I am in love.

A Must See.

2007-05-10T14:14:00.002-07:00

"Madame Tutli-Putli boards the Night Train, weighed down with all her earthly possessions and the ghosts of her past.

She travels alone, facing both the kindness and menace of strangers. As day descends into dark, she finds herself caught up in a desperate metaphysical adventure. Adrift between real and imagined worlds, Madame Tutli-Putli confronts her demons and is drawn into an undertow of mystery and suspense."

madame tutli-putli

Journey.

2007-04-30T13:01:00.002-07:00

I picked this lovely little book up at the Kinokuniya Bookstore in Seattle. I only had a few minutes to look and I could hardly tear myself away. Actually I couldn't. Simon had to have me forcibly removed from the store.

I can not wait to go back. I think it is my favorite place on Earth. I wish I could read all the books and understand all the instructions, but it is certainly not a deal breaker. Just look at these photos.

I am desperate for my gocco and a place to sew. A lot of my supplies are in storage and we still lack a table, chair or anyplace suitable to operate a sewing machine.

Oh well, I guess I should be cleaning anyway. I certainly have enough to do, but it is hard to ignore all of this new-found inspiration. Hugs. xox=vv.

Spring Greetings.

2007-04-26T18:18:00.002-07:00

I can not keep this to myself any longer. I must share. I love this too too much! Isn't it a strange combination of creepy and girly? Mildly perverse and delightfully feminine?

Short and sweet. I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Hugs. xox=vv.

The Paper Quilt Project.

2007-04-25T18:30:00.002-07:00

I am terribly honored and lucky (although un-deserving *smile*) to be an April participant in Dawn's beautiful Paper Quilt Project. I borrowed this scan of my collage from her flickr page. Thank you very much dear girl!!

This post will be finished in just a little bit. Gotta order dinner! All right, where was I? Here is an in-progress picture. It is not very good and I planned to take a lot more, but once I really got started I completely forgot.

The other artists are totally incredible and I can hardly wait to see their collages (like lovely Lisa's). I don't know how Dawn thinks of these amazing projects, but I am very grateful and constantly in awe. Hugs. xox=vv.

It's Really Old, But I Did Make It.

2007-04-23T14:34:00.002-07:00

That must mean something. I know that at some point I posted this picture of my puppies elephant, but did I also show you this coaster I made? I am not sure if I kept it during the move, but I have got to say that it was the best coaster that I have ever had.

It would absorb the water from your drink and would discolor slightly, but then a little later it would look brand new and still be conveniently free of puddles. It was a modern crafting miracle because it worked out just the way it was supposed to without prior planning or expensive tools or equipment that I did not already own. Crazy! Anyway, Hugs. xox=vv.

15 Out Of 135.

2007-04-22T19:56:00.002-07:00

That is how many posts I still have to repair. Not too bad. Some of the pictures are still earmarked private on Flickr. I will change that next. I think you should still be able to see them though.

Oh this picture is not so great. I took it so so long ago now. I just like the colors and thought I would post it anyway.

We were supposed to do all sorts of things this weekend and yet we accomplished absolutely none of them. Why am I so exhausted then? Hmmm. Strange. I hope you are all having a wonderful and restful weekend! Hugs. xox=vv.