Another Sewing-less Post

credit:  La Perera via: Behance

My husband casually gave me the best possible [unsolicited] compliment the other day.  He teases me all the time about living in "Heidi's world" which is full of rainbows and unicorns and vanilla bean ice cream.  A world where refunds are plentiful- every business is respectful - everyone does the right thing.  All this time I thought he was mocking me,so I just smiled and rolled with it.  But the other day he told me that my belief in humanity is so strong that it is as if the sunshine follows me as I drive around town.  

As if the clouds part to let me pass.

Today, the first day of summer break, I drove through the rain to the neurologist to learn that I need to start taking seizure meds and that I can not drive for at least six months. 

I'm feeling a bit bummed out.  

My brain feels like mush. 

Everything looks foggy and I'm dumb as rocks.

I want to take his compliment to heart and be positive. 

Looks like I'll get more sewing time (albeit slow and labored). 

It is possible I'll get thinner (!!!)  

I won't have to go to anyone's pampered chef/tupperware/jewelry party.  

So please bear with me.  

I'll be posting slower than I'd like with way more typos and grammar errors. (I'm usually a pretty good speller ((just wrote spleler)) but this whole ((pst)) post was underlined in red.)

--I've got a few finished kids outfits and need to photograph them and get them posted. This will be a good experiment to test pattern difficulty.  I'll be anyone's pattern tester to see if a pattern can be completed by a post seizure brain.

-- Maybe I'll host a seizure induced sewing series and you can send in your project that made you nutty. I foresee dizzying fabrics and rip your hair out projects.

--Oh, stay tuned for a Scout Sews post coming up.  She made a sewing tutorial.  Such a funny kid.

And to wrap things up- the opposite of a compliment.... a total tease.  

Izzy: Mom, better run through the rain.  It might cause a seizure!

Happy Monday!

I've taken a couple of weeks of to recoup and have been itching to make something.  I thought it might be fun and relaxing to embroider a couple of flour sack dish towels I've had laying around.  I wanted to keep it simple for a couple of reasons.  First, so I'd actually finish. Second, so I would actually use them and not hoard them like the days of the week ones my Grandma gave me.

So with a summer theme in mind,  I started with this.

Any guesses?  No, not crazy long mushrooms - although that is what they look like.  Popsicles of course!  Sometimes its best to admit defeat and move on.  This is one of those times. I'm going to blame it on my seizure brain.  Milk it for all it's worth.

I have slowly started sewing again.  Here's a peek of what I'll share tomorrow.  Turned out adorable - even with my ridiculous fabric picks!  Wish I could blame that choice on a wacked out brain.

And in other news,  I had a EEG yesterday.  I'll get results Thursday.  This test will just confirm that no one has any idea why I became possessed by spirits for six days (and to rule out epilepsy).  Oh, and I might want to become an EEG tech.  I found the whole thing to be pretty cool.

pattern giveaway ends Saturday....

and your chances of winning are great!

oh, don't forget the giveaway

Two winners

One winner will receive Indygo Junction Gathered to Fit Apron Pattern 

One winner will receive Perkins Dry Goods Rolling Stones Quilt Pattern

To enter:

Leave a comment below

Double entry if you follow greendoodle, 

make sure to mention you are follower in your comment

Winners will be chosen at random on June 15, 2013.  Available to ship internationally.

a thank you, an overshare, and an apology

first, an enormous thank you

Wow, I made it through SYTYC and came out on top.  Thank you!  Thank you for taking the time to vote.  Thank you for reading my little ole blog.  Thank you for taking the extra time to comment.  Thank you for being so kind.  

Thank you!

this photo was taken on New Year's Eve when poor girl wasn't feeling so great
{fast forward 30 years, add a seizure, and you'd have my face}

the overshare

A funny thing happened last week.  Not so much funny "ha ha", but funny as in "did that really just happen" kind of funny.  

My girls and I were at Costco stocking up on travelling snacks and kid swim suits for a quick trip to visit family in Utah.  I suddenly felt pretty tired and it seemed appropriate to sit down.  Right in the middle of Costco.  That should have been my first clue, but I am a clearly a tad slow.  I remember someone giving me a sideways glance.  I remember not caring what he thought and looked at a level 1 easy reader with Izzy while sitting on the concrete floor.

Clue #2 came a few minutes later when the girls asked for Happy Meals and I said "sure", just let me sit at the tables for a minute.  I never say yes to Happy Meals.  I do feed my kids more junk than I'd like to admit, but I really dislike Happy Meals.

Clue #3 Once at the food court tables I began to put my head down for a quick second.  I thought, "This table is disgusting.  Gross".  And then I laid my cheek on a smear of ketchup.  I should have realized that something was not right as I rubbed my face on hardened globs of condiments.  Nope, not yet.

To my credit, I was smart enough to not lug everything out to the car or heaven forbid try to drive.  I did try to get through to my husband.  I did ask an employee for juice or fruit. 

I was smart enough for that.

My "few minutes" at the food court tables somehow turned into more than an hour.  My "rest" on the table turned to me passing in and out of consciousness and involuntary moving my left appendages.  The poor Costco employee who watched the whole ordeal called for an expensive ride to the hospital and gratefully took my phone and got my husband. I can not imagine what he was thinking about what  to do with my kids.

  Child services?  Mini shelf stockers?  Maybe product samplers?

I don't remember a whole lot of that hour.  My kids find it hilarious to re-enact the ordeal as they mock their loving mother. From the bits I remember, and the bits I am told, I had a seizure at Costco, one in the ambulance, and one in the ER.  I must be needing a little attention.

To condense this long and frustrating story - all brain tests returned normal.  The seizures did  stop, not for five days however.  I either have just developed epilepsy (unlikely- but I'll find out next week) or it is all unknown.  

Possible culprits:

stroke (negative)

brain herpes (unlikely, no fever)

epilepsy (also unlikely)

allergy to a new allergy pill (5:21,000 chance, this is neuro's vote)

or tramatic brain injury (he said it looked like it was caused by a hockey puck to the head)

and our uneducated and nonsensical guess: hantavirus

---side note:  I am doing much better.  I now have full use of my hand/arm.  I am still stumbling over words and running into walls - but what is new?  I'll let you all know what happens when they electrify my brain next week.  I am sure you're on the edge of your seat!

and last, 

via www.meijer.com

an apology

I am sorry for not responding to emails, for cancelling guest posts for Jenn and Project Run and Play, for not testing your totally awesome pattern, Heidi.  I hope to get back in the swing of things soon- when I have no excuse for not keeping my commitments.  

Sorry!  

New Digs for the Drive-In

This was my final submission for the Wild Card week at So You Think You're Crafty!

I had begun to work on a safe & "cute" final project for this contest when my husband mentioned casually...

Husband:  " you know how I've been soo supportive of this competition?  And, you remember how I never said anything when we'd have cereal for dinner, or that we quadrupled the fabric budget, or that week you lost our kids?  

Me:  "yeah?"

Husband:  "well, whacha think of reupholstering the Scout we just bought?

Me:  "oh boy, here we go..."

This has got to be the most hair-brained of my projects yet!  There were a few days I was certain that I'd contracted the hantavirus.  Clearly these seats were once a home to varmints of some kind.  

This was a serious makeover.

 I stripped the seats of our new Craigslist treasure, a 1964 International Scout, down to wood and metal.  Armed with new foam and dacron, I created new two-tone seats covered in marine vinyl.   A bit of new carpet and a painted dash completes the look. 

Eventually we'll paint the thing to get the exterior looking as sharp as the interior.

And we now have a fun new toy for late night drive in movies, jeep trails, and picnics in the mountains 

(if only we could get the thing running...)

Quilt Market: A Therapy Session

From the moment I walked onto the quilt market floor I was awe struck.  There were so many beautiful fabrics and inspiration.  Occasionally I mustered courage to say hello to my sewing idols, but I mostly quietly absorbed creativity and inspiration.

I had to say hello at Amanda's booth and fabrics.  The fabrics were/are to die for.

I didn't know her (yet), and felt like a putz for not knowing her or her work.  I still feel like a putz.

She is hands down the coolest person ever.

No contest.

She welcomed me into her booth to sit and chat and create a cute bracelet out her new line Madhuri (Riley Blake fabrics - and amazing!!!).

Somehow I ended up sharing my life story with her.  (Admittedly, I am a crazy person).  She was so welcoming and genuine and personable.  (I might have a bit of a crush, ya think?)

If you'd like to mooch off her awesomeness, she is hosting a  creative retreat in September in Park City Utah.  I'm hoping it becomes an annual thing so I can save for next year.  [edit:  MAKE SURE TO WATCH THE BORN TO FLY VIDEO!  You'll be glad you did.]

I met a lot of really amazing and inspiring people at market.  My bucket is full.  I feel inspired to find my niche and take action. What ideas are you sitting on that you are too afraid (or lazy like me) to attempt?  Let's do it together.  Let's get out there and be awesome!

Virtual Quilt Market (day 2)

A few more snippets of Quilt Market goodness. 

Kay Whitt:  http://www.sewserendipity.com/

Lovely patterns and lovely lady!  I bought the Sally Shirtdress and hope to get busy sewing for myself one of the next days or years.

Joanna Figueroa http://www.figtreequilts.com/

Joanna taught a class featuring her fabric during Market and she was a delight.  I used some of her fabrics for crib bedding years ago, and everything she makes is exactly my Mom's style.  I wish I could buy the whole line for her.

Vanessa Christenson http://www.vanessachristenson.com/

It is no secret that I have a blog crush on Vanessa.  She is an inspiration to bloggers, moms, sewists everywhere.  I have to say that she is even nicer than she seems (which is pretty nice).

Liesl Gibson  http://oliverands.com

And the iconic Leisl.  She is just as charming as you would expect.  

What can I say?  Best. Patterns.  Ever. 

Quilt Market (and a little Aussie slang)

[Heads Up:  giveaway chance if you make it the end of this long post]

I am still basking and reflecting in the incredible weekend of Quilt Market.  I am still loosing sleep over the new fabric lines coming out this summer.  I am still laughing at the fool I made of myself as well. I'd have to say the Quilt Market is this sewing nerds Comic-Con.

 I met Mo Bedell through her amazing booth, (Note the first place ribbon?)  but her kindness bowled me over.  She was so personable and chatty- and fun.  I learned that she is also a Portland girl and we are hunting for a screen printing studio to play in this summer. (!!!!!)  She premiered her new line, Full Moon Lagoon for Andover Fabrics, which is stunning!

I have to admit, that  I was pretty star struck when I came across designers whose fabrics I have long adored.  Heather Ross' new line will blow your away.  This great quilt was designed by the darling Rae Hoekstra.  If you follow me on Instagram you will see the book I'm holding.  I had just snapped the photo at another booth when I ran into Heather's booth.

And here's one more for you to drool over, and laugh at me.  I have followed Jodie Carleton's blog ever since the iconic selvage dress.  I have adored her patterns, and have meant to make the Kinder girls for ages now.  Someone had mentioned this booth on instagram and I jumped in.  "No way, she's here!  What booth?"   Jodie replied, "900 something or other, love your name".  So the next day I stopped by to snap pictures and buy patterns.  She laughed and told me that she wondered what kind of girl "greendoodle" would turn out to be.  It seems that doodle in Australia does not have the same meaning as doodle in the US.   (doodle meaning- down under style)

Turns out  I've been packing all along!

----------------------------------------------------------

[and as promised: a give-away]

and

Two winners

One winner will receive Indygo Junction Gathered to Fit Apron Pattern 

One winner will receive Perkins Dry Goods Rolling Stones Quilt Pattern

To enter:

Leave a comment below

Double entry if you follow greendoodle, 

make sure to mention you are follower in your comment

Winners will be chosen at random on June 15, 2013.  Available to ship internationally.

One Round to Go!

Thank you for your votes!  One round left in the infamous So You Think You're Crafty.

We'll know next week if I am crafty or not....

Quilt Market: And it Begins!

A quick pop in.  Last night my cute friend Di treated me to a quilt market dinner cruise.  I can tell this is going to be one amazing week!

And, I've decided I can't keep all this goodness to myself.  Keep checking back over the weekend and early next week for a few giveaways of quilt patterns, fabric, and just pure sewing bliss.

(PS. I spotted my first sewing celebrities. Kim  Christopherson  aand Kris Thrurgoode, and indentical twin duo who write, design, run a shop, teach on TV (even Rachel Ray!) and more.  And to top it off, they are adorably nice. )