SCBWI Spring Conference

WOW! What a weekend.  That's about all I can say after a weekend of eating, reading, writing and being surrounded by inspirational speakers.

If I can encourage anyone to attend one of these conferences, I want to do it. You'll definitely get more than your money's worth.

Random Acts of Senseless Violence

Okay, it's time for another bookclub book. And, NO, I didn't pick this one. Has anyone out there read
Random Acts of Senseless Violence? I'm hoping to start it on Sunday. It sounds good, a little rich girl goes through a terrifying transformation. That does sound like my kind of story.

Lola Hart is writing her life in her diary. She is a little rich girl, cushioned from the horrors that lurk in the New York streets. But Lola is about to undergo the same transformation as her city. This book charts Lola's journey from middle-class affluence to a life of violence.

We'll see. I liked the last story, which wasn't a book I would have picked. That's the good thing about book clubs. They make you step outside your comfort zone and try new things...read new books, new genres.

So, that's what I'll be reading...how 'bout you?

Adding Bling

I'm getting ready for the SCBWI Wagons Ho event this weekend by getting out my western gear.

I've got my cowgirl hat

But it's a little plain. "Sew" I pulled out some ribbon, some rhinestones, and my all purpose glue gun.

Then I started gluing those sparkles to my hat.

Here's how it came out.

And after the conference, I can pull off the ribbon and be back to the plain old me.

Hair style #3

So I thought I'd try another hairstyle for my renewing of my vows ceremony.

I really wanted to have some braids. So here's how it came out.

I'm going to try a couple with my hair down because that's the way my husband really likes my hair but I want to have a braid or two incorporated in the style, even if it's only a headband braid...see the one on the counter? Maybe something like that.

Doggie Dash

Saturday was the Doggie Dash. It's a fun dog run to help raise money for the Oregon Humane Society.

My sister, niece, husband and I did the run.  The run starts at 9:00 a.m. and then walkers start at 9:45 a.m.

Here are a few pictures from the event.

DIY Tee-shirt Remake

For Mother's Day my daughter gave me a tee shirt to match my new little car. Unfortunately I don't like collars up around my neck "sew" I worked it over into something I would want to wear. Here's how I did it.

I used a file folder for a straight edge and drew a "V" neck line on the tee-shirt.

Then I cut the collar off and put some cotton binding down on the edge.

I sewed the binding on the V.  I love how it says "Oregon" on the license plate and has a peace sign for an emblem.

Then I put some elastic in the arms and Wah-Lah a new shirt entirely.

Now, this is something I'll wear when I'm cruising around town in my beetle.

DIY Flooring

My hubby has been remodeling one of the bedroom's in our house. It's taken a while . . . or at least longer than I'd expected. But part of the reason is that my husband likes to reuse everything he can. He recycles, repurposes, and upcycles building materials. This is one of those projects.

He tore old wood out of the walls and then cut the wood scraps on his table saw to make his own tongue and groove flooring because there was a spot in the floor where there was no flooring. This was because he raised the roof, literally, over one peak of the dormer.

Here he is working with the 120 year old wood.

The flooring all fits together nicely but now he has to install it and then sand it. The process takes a bit of time. But we both like the idea of not filling up the landfill with beautiful old growth wood, even if it is bits and pieces...we can always find a use for it.

Now I'm hoping it isn't too much longer until the floor is finished, the walls are in and we can move into our new bedroom.