Build a Better Slipcover September 28, 2009

2 weeks ago I spent hours searching (online and in person) for a slipcover. My requirements- slip on/off easily, without moving the couch if possible (I always have crap piled in front of it, and besides, I reserve moving furniture for my once-every-5-years-if-i-have-actually-not-moved-in-the-last-can-you-believe-five-years cleaning, done without fail, every five years. Damn, damn, ok, I’ll own up. I’ve never had to resort to such a cleaning. I’ve managed to move before that cleaning project came up.). Oh, yeah, so, easy on/off slipcover. That let out all the stretch, tailored looking, pin on (do they even make those anymore?) ones.  My 2nd requirement involved cost- I’m cheap. I didn’t realize I had a third requirement, until I was at store after store, wrinkling my nose. I wanted the fabric to feel nice.

 Did you note I wasn’t even going to be picky about the LOOK of the fabric?? That’s a big thing, but I figured as long as it was neutral-ish, and/or solid colored, it’d be fine. I thought, well, not white, but I doubt they make white slipcovers anyways- or at least they don’t sell that many of ‘em.

 When I could find slipcovers in the stores, they invariably felt cheap, scratchy, itchy, nasty, unsoft, uncuddly, horrible fabrics. Most stores seem like they’ve stopped carrying them- maybe they still have ‘em online, but I did want to feel and see the fabrics.

 I came home after spending the day fruitlessly searching for slipcovers in stores, and pulled the white (I know!) matelasse bedspread off the bed, and threw it over the couch. I had previously vowed NOT to be this cheap, in throwing a blanket on the couch, as I grew up with a set of grandparents who did EXACTLY this. I hated the look of their couches. The spread I threw over top of it is a queen size. It’s not long enough to reach the floor on the sides of the couch, so I harumped, humphed, brooded, frowned for awhile, and remembered the 2 twin size yellow matelasse spreads I bought at a garage sale for $3 each (one is ripped- and I only got them for that price after pointing that out, on a Sunday afternoon, while I was buying other stuff). So I got to thinking, if I used the yellow to make a couple sides for it, and maybe cut the white to fit a little better (so it doesn’t LOOK like I’m using the yellow cuz the white isn’t long enough), and then what if I cut “pillowcases” for the 3 seat cushions out of the yellow. And put a yellow ribbon along the bottom edge of the white? And cut off the extra white in the back? Originally I wanted to leave the white alone, so I could still use it as a bedspread, but who am I kidding? If I’m pulling it off my couch and washing it every week or 2 (cuz the dog likes the soft fabric as much as i do), do I expect it to still be usable in a few years? How long has it been since I’ve used it as a bedspread (3+ years, except that the day before I’d put it on the bed to use it as a bedspread). So, I decided I’d go ahead and cut the white one a little, to fit the couch better, use the yellow as cushions, and on the sides. If I have white or yellow left over, I’ll make pillows, but I’m also planning on using white and yellow sweaters to make cushions- I have the white ones STILL from last winter, when I never got around to actually getting them sewn.

 So, I have learned this lesson- always buy matelasse spreads, if they’re affordable, at any GS or TS you may find them, no matter the size. You will find a use for them. One cannot have too many blankets stored away. Love that fabric.

 So, you’re asking me, let’s see some pics! Let’s have some destructions! Yeah, I’m saying the same shit. When I get to it, I’ll post ‘em. In the meantime, here’s a little drawing.

 

Very Poor Drawing of the Couch

I’m still theorizing on the yellow and white (I remain skeptical, I’m afraid it’ll still look pieced together, instead of looking finished). And  I’m trying to figure out the best way to do all of this.

 

And finish that damn shower curtain that is years old.

 

Sewing machine, watch out. When I get it all organized, I’m gonna break you outta yo jail. Be ready.

Gibsons- Kerrville, TX September 16, 2009

When some family moved to Kerrville, i started visiting there regular-like. It’s a cute, small-ish town, it seems to be retirement and winter texans, but i do believe it’s growing. It has many nice areas, and i’m very glad that i haven’t seen it (yet) on the top 10 places to retire. Let’s hope no one says anything.

One of the stores i can hardly resist is Gibson’s. I do realize that apparently Gibsons used to be a chain, presumably of a five and dime, hardware store variety. I’ve never heard of another one, but they may be out there. Everyone seems to remember them fondly, are surprised that any are still around, and want to know where it’s at.

I’ll ante up with this secret. Only cuz i don’t want the place goin’ outta bidness, or nothing horrible like that.

It’s on Main Street.

I know, hard to believe it’s on such a little side street, folks just look at you blankly when you ask where it is, if it does indeed exist.

For those of you (us) who don’t remember the good ole days’ of Gibsons on every corner, lemmee tell you a little about this wonder of a store.

Things i’ve bought:
Coin collecting/Numismatic Supplies,
Flour sack dishcloths,
Enamelware bowls and trays in colors i’ve never found before,
Jars for canning- half-gallon size, gallon size, along with your standard pints, quarts, jelly jars, etc. All ass’t accessories for canning (including canners, i’m sure),
A new pair of boots in the exact shape i wanted that i could not find at any of the other 5 western wear stores i looked for them in,
Cool and varied kitchen accessories (french fry thingy, before i’d seen it anywhere else, the tiniest little metal spatula (that i still haven’t seen anywhere else), metal spatulas (darn near impossible to find in these non-stick days), shoot- i can’t remember what all else i’ve bought vs what all else i simply drooled over.
Espresso pot (choice of 3, 5, 7, 9 cup- yup, they had ALL of them, and i found these here after scouring 3 different kitchen stores for the particular pot i wanted, where i would have settled for any size they had)

Things i have NOT bought (YET!):
Huge metal wok. No, i mean huge. Like, a yard diameter. Well, at least 2 feet diameter. If i ever have a big party, i’m gonna go back and get this thing. I simply haven’t been able to justify the purchase yet.
Cast iron- alas, my collection is nearly complete (one can only use so many skillets, dutch ovens, etc. I mean, after i have 2 stacks of 5 or 6 skillets in my cabinet, i really shouldn’t be buying more)
Stamp collecting supplies
Paint- acrylic, oils, craft, the kinds for pick-tures, etc.
Paint- latex, oil, the kinds for the walls, etc.
Cleaning supplies- i know, laugh all you want. That’s why i didn’t buy them. I knew i’d hardly ever use them. But really, they have the neatest tin buckets, and pails, etc. And the old-school mops, where you take the head off and actually wash it. And scrubbrushes in any shape you’d want.
The biggest cowboy-ish hat i’ve ever seen. Not the 10 gallon type, but a cross between a sombrero and a cowboy hat- and the size of the hat that Andie McDowell wears in that wedding movie w/ Hugh-whoever-he-is- done in straw, looks very cool, and looks good on me too. I just wanted the aforementioned boots more than the hat.
Wrangler jeans, cowboy shirts, scrubs, comfy looking nitegowns and “at home” type dresses (muu muus), scarves in beautiful patterns (Mom bought the one i wanted, but really, i NEVER wear scarves)
Sewing supplies
Pots, pans, dishes (in particular, they have a GREAT, rotating (so, you know that means buy it when you see it, cuz if you go back it won’t be there) selection of plates and bowls, but especially bowls. Perfect soup bowls, sketti bowls, oh, i’ll stop now)
Tea pots, cups, spoons, spoon rests, those things you put tea leaves in- steepers? etc.

Did i forget to say that it is a hardware store as well? Oh, yeah, and i havne’t even mentioned the outdoor furniture, statues, etc.

Anytime you can’t find something anywhere, go to Gibsons. THey’ve got it.

The only thing i have ever gone in there for, that they didn’t have- ribbon. I needed some ribbon for a present, and just stopped in there on my way, and they told me to go to some other place i didn’t know where it was. So my present went ribbon-less.

Labor Day Pepper Roast- Year 3 September 14, 2009

I say year 3, i’ve been doing it 4 or 5 years, but they’ve had interruptions. Last year i roasted nada, cuz i was down to my poor lil ‘ole single fridge/freezer combo. I thought i could just do without ’em, and use canned. Lordy, what a mistake that was!

This year i am renting freezer space at da boyfriends place. But, i DO have a count on how many bags i roasted, and will keep track accordingly!

Well, so Labor Day i was outta town. But i remembered the Hatch Green Chile Fest the next weekend, and hied meself down to my local HEB to order my 2 boxes of HOT (no mild ones, please!) green chiles to roast up. Thank heavens that fest is 2 weekends in a row!

Now that this is over, i can say, “My wonderful over-ordering self reared her head” and i ended up ordering 3 boxes. Well, turns out the boxes are 25 lbs each. My over-ordering self is only wonderful once the dishes are done and everything put away. Up until that point, i generally curse, swear i won’t do it again, and generally beat myself up (as if the work wasn’t enough).

For the next 9-10 months tho, i will have enough green chiles. Queso, quesadillas, baked potatos, pots of beans, blenders of salsa, fajita soups, leftover soups, aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh yes, for the next several months, i will smile, be happy, count my blessings, and praise my wonderful little over ordering self.

So, from 10am Saturday morning till 8pm Sat nite, and then for another couple hours on Sunday, i roasted and peeled, and peeled, and peeled those wonderful little green gobs of goo. I should have weighed the final count, but honestly, i was so tired, i could have cared less. I got around 10-12 big bags of little bags of chiles. I got up on Sunday feeling as tired as i’d gone to bed the nite before.

But by afernoon i was energized!!

I used the last 5 lbs of potatos to make Green Chile Twice Baked Potatos, a pot of beans, and since i had the oven goin’, a pan of roasted veggies. The veggies and beans will go into my infamous Fajita Soup later this week, and the potatoes i can already tell, i’m gonna have to start doubling the recipe. I really wanted Twice Baked Potato Soup (with the green chile twist, naturally), but already i don’t have enough leftovers!

Green Chile Twice Baked Potatos
1. 5 lbs small potatos
2. 4-5 roasted HOT green chiles (hatch) (i guess if you’re desperate enough, you could use canned ones. Won’t taste the same tho)
3. 1/2 cup or more of the Mexican Cream (again, in a pinch, you could use regular cream, or sour cream, but it won’t be the same)
4. Butter to taste (i only use a few tablespoons, others i know use a whole stick- per potato!)
5. Cheese- preferably Queso Oaxaca in Mexico, or Queso Quesadillo, or Asadero, or Manchego, or Chihuahua, or, your best option- as many as you can get your hands on. Grate up about a cup (if you’re being good), or 2 cups

Bake your taters. Cut ’em in half, scoop out most of the tater, but leave enough in there to give the skins some thickness. Add your cream, chopped up chiles, butter, and mix (some folks, who are picky, mix them with a mixer, so they’re all smooth. I’m a texture kinda gal, so i smoosh ’em with my masher, and stir with a spoon). Reload the skins, sprinkle lightly with the cheese, and stick ’em back in the oven for about 20 min. till the cheese melts, and they start getting all crusty on the edges. Wait, i put them in the oven for a while, then pulled them out and put the cheese on, then back in. Yeah, you’d best do that. Don’t wanna burn all the cheese off. So, stick them in for 20 min, or even 30, then add the cheese, then another 10 min.

Show over Easter Weekend April 14, 2009

Just did a show in a little local town. I heard the number of booths was somewhere in the 150 or so range. I didn’t check with the organizers, just heard from someone else, that was the number. There was plenty of folks in the crowd, despite somewhat uncooperative weather, and the fact that it was on Easter weekend (perhaps this even helped, I don’t know- and this was the reason for the weather! Why is it that Easter weekend seems like it is always unseasonably cold?). There was plenty of food (there was a carnival along w/ the vendor booths, plenty of live music, plentiful hours, and a decent location), there were plenty of craft booths, and enough “import junk,” and I was even surprised there weren’t more. There was plenty of jewelry, but it wasn’t every other booth, which I was afraid of. There were probly 10+ booths of it, but truly, I was expecting more. I don’t think there were a lot of people buying anything, quite frankly. There were just too many people walking around w/ their purses, and not bags. I sold a few pendants, and checked out a lot of the booths. There were about 4 that had real art. A watercolorist, a traditional painter (who also did some sort of odd new digital thing, the less I know about that the better I am, I believe. Painting by computer, now. Aye. Well, I know nothing, so I shouldn’t be trashin’ it), a stained and fused glass (although the fused glass at least used cutout shapes, and certainly ring saws to get the desired shapes, it seemed not mass produced, but corny, but it was a company out of CO, and geared toward “American Indian Commercialed” type stuff. Mom woulda probly loved it. (I love you Mom!). Seems like there was one more, but I can’t recall. I am not counting either myself or the other glass fuser who was there, who did quite nice stuff, very professional, and way different than mine. I hope she did better than I did, she was right across from me, and seemed to always have a good crowd, so I hope she had some good sales. I didn’t so much, but didn’t mind this as much as I normally would have. I got a lot of ideas for display, for booth setup, and I did some good thinkin’.

I hate retail. I hate talking to people, asking how they’re doing, trying to sell. That’s it, it’s not so much the people, it’s that I hate selling! And I am not good at it; ask anyone. I love going to things like this, tho, as long as I can be the customer. And the folks in the booth next to us were really great folks- I know they probly didn’t do so great at this show, I sure hope they do awesome at the next one. Full of great advice, willing to share, and talk.

I didn’t really think about stealing anyones ideas (for display or otherwise), just noticed what worked, what I liked, what I think they did right, wrong, and how they should do it better, how I’d like it all to work, stuff like that.

For BF’s and my stuff- black tablecloths, white cards. Tables need to be high (I think he said 3 feet or 4? Out of kids’ reach for sure), semi open and semi closed booth, get my stuff out of the case, or perhaps use the case for showcase pieces to draw attention, but NO DOOR on the case. (I liked using the door as an excuse to talk to folks’- “here, you can open that right up, it won’t fall over.” And then I’d go open it. But often as not, they’d walk away at that point. But last Christmas, at the last show I did, that worked well- but I was sitting right next to it w/ just a small table. His stuff should certainly have a card of some kind that has a write up on each piece, the inspiration, etc. My stuff ain’t quite so fancy, but I need perhaps a general write up on fused glass, and my inspirations in general (“design elements”). Then our mixed pieces will need a write up, as there will be a distinct story with each one.

My stand-uppy cards was a thought of sheer genius on my part, but I owe my friend and BF both many thanks for the tweaking they both gave me on ways to improve that idea, and make it work.

We agree that we will do better at shows geared more towards art than craft, but I know that I need some tweaking before I am at that level. And I think I will probably only do shows with BF in future, if he is seriously interested in doing them. I am not a talker, and must have someone with me to “draw the crowd in and say hello,” and I’d be more than happy to do all the paperwork involved to compensate. All in all, a good learning experience, which I’m sure is good for me, as all medicine should be.

On the bright side, i talked to several glass fusers, who told me what good ideas i had, and one even admitted she was going right home and make herself one. Sigh. Well, i do like inspiring people, and these folks at least were all real friendly, unlike the woman of last year.  And honest.

I heard on the radio this morning. . . . December 16, 2008

all ’bout the history of gingerbread. Ok, well, as all ’bout as a 15 second spot can get. Created by German monks, given by fair ladies to their brave knights, and in the 19th century (maybe 18th? i lost track. My attention span is only 10 seconds) the gingerbread man came about. It was given to young unmarried girls, and they ate the gingerbread man to ensure they would get a husband.

Is THAT what my problem is?

I laughed about this the rest of the way into work this morning. File this under xmas traditions. Maybe i’ll bake up a batch to eat next year. This year i’m baking up a batch shaped like  . . . hmm, well, i’ll get back to ya. Bills would be a good shape, boats, oh, oh, i’ve got it! a clock! I defintely need more time! Hey, but seriously, i can’t wait for next year. I might even print out a little tag describing this nifty trick, and try to sell ’em. We’ll have sugar daddy gingerbread man, Fix-it gingerbread man, Chef gingerbread man, Mr. Clean gingerbread man, oh, lordy, i could go on forever! I’ll be happy to take suggestions, anyone . . comment on your favorite/most needed. . . .