Belly Update

After being absolutely blown away by the generosity of my friends during our baby shower, where we accumulated baby's entire wardrobe, and enough food to turn our fridge into a gourmet Mexican restaurant, I can only think now of my belly and await our new family member (who is currently taking a break from jabbing my ribs.)

Hooray for mommy blogs! I found this really simple tutorial from See Mommy Sew on turning a regular skirt pattern into a maternity skirt. Using some old fabric from my mom, this was the first skirt I turned out:



That was my belly in January. It's quite a bit bigger now, and the skirt is still fitting rather nicely. I've since realized that the tutorial works well with pre-existing skirts too. So slowly my old skirts are turning "maternity." I used to be afraid of elastic waistbands but now I understand their comfort. Just get the sweatpants image out of your head and everything will be ok. Although the ladies at the fabric store were curious as to what exactly I was going to do with 5 yards of 3" elastic. As if my belly didn't tell the story.

Not to keep going on and on about my belly (but well, this is the Belly Update) here's a funny little picture my friend Carye of Red Bat Press took of me messing around with my friend the Chandler & Price letterpress. As you can see, belly + feeding board don't work well.



mental note: no goofy faces when someone has a camera.

Ok, here's the latest belly picture. It's still actually from a month ago so we're even bigger now.



Can I just add that things I never knew could be sore are sore right now? And um more sore things to come. I know. And my belly button is doing some really crazy things.

Happy spring everybody. The narcissus here are a bit stunted. I look forward to the cherry blossoms, which are slowly awakening, and my new friend to emerge, who will hopefully not trash my body when he makes his appearance.

Visit to Vintage/Collectibles Show at Portland Expo Center

Yesterday I had a chance to visit my sweet friend Lulu at the Vintage & Collectible show at the Portland Expo Center. I rode the Max and marveled at the public art (pssst -- hey Trimet, I heard you're getting $44 million dollars from the stimulus package, so you don't have to cut my 33 Fremont busline, CAPEESH?) I got on the Max at a stop that is really close the warehouse where my old art studio used to be. They had just built the max line right before I moved out. I felt a little nostalgic to be there.

Some of the public art at the Albina/Mississippi stop:

It's just a short ride to the Expo Center, and the Max takes you around the Vanport wetlands area, a protected marsh that I had never seen before. It's home to over a 100 species of birds.

The vintage show itself was a bit overwhelming. Even though I had my friend's booth number with me, I got a little mixed-up with the way the aisles were marked, and I ended up walking up and down the wrong aisle. And there was soo much to look at, it was hard to stay focused. Perhaps the most amazing thing I saw (and really, there were so many amazing things to see, but the one thing that I can distinctly remember in particular) --- a vintage Steiff bear, with castors on its feet, poised on all four feet and of proportions so that a child could ride it. Steiff stuffed animals are pretty remarkable to begin with, as they are handsewn, jointed, and have real animal fur. But to see a vintage Steiff, and to see it so large, was really kind of special. There was some wear and tear on the back of the bear, where its original owner had used the bear for its intended purpose. I imagine a turn of the century well-to-do little boy in a sailor suit posing on top. You can fulfill this fantasy for a mere $400 (although based on other vintage Steiff prices now I'm wondering if this bear is just a replica.)

Eventually I found my friend Lulu's booth, and as usual she looked adorable and her space was full of really cool vintage clothing and accessories:












I thought I might walk away from the show with some vintage children items for my baby room, (quick, before the CPSIA sends it all the LANDFILL!!) but instead my only purchases were some very cool French postcards from the early 1900s. Of course I have to share them with you:

translation:

He: And the height from the knee to the hip proves that you are an adorably made little lady...

translation:
He: And you know, if I get married, my uncle will give me a good dowry!
She: Oh really! ... how much?

Printmaking Article in Etsy's Storque

Hey everyone check out this really wonderful article written by the fabulous Etsy seller Magic Jelly. It's a clear and succinct intro of sorts to printmaking.

Printmaking is something that doesn't get much attention on Etsy too often, so it's nice to see some really great work featured, including - ahem - moi!

Read the article here

blah blah blah blah

We're fighting a really bad cold and overall depression/winter malaise brought on by rainy darkness, pregnant hormones, and lack of real exercise other than occasional prenatal yoga. I don't have any pictures to share with you of the new paintings (hello sun, could you help us out over here?) but I can share with you this:

mars black
cobalt teal
quinacridone crimson
naphthol red medium
hansa yellow medium

and of course

titanium white

and floating lochness-like ladies, ladies with no legs, pink galloping horses, and multi-colored feathers.

You'll just have to picture it in your mind for now until I can take some photos.


PS. Thank you commenters! I used to reply to every comment but now I wonder if anyone would ever check back to read a reply. Because I don't ever when I comment on some else's blog.