Kelephone

But this is cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xppNIBGzxYs

http://www.dogtowncommons.com/

I just got paid! By my first non-friend client! He LOVES my work!

EEEEEE

Now if I could only get my act together and work on my website. hmm.

Hi Alfred! you should now be able to read all my locked posts. Sorry, there are a lot of them lately. I love you! When are you coming to California again?

I was awakened very early this morning to the sound of Tyrrell tapping on my window. It's about the best way to start my day that I can think of.

Then he helped me get dressed for work. I ended up being Rainbow Brite. Yes, I managed to throw together stuff I already had and do a very good rendition. I think T was amused at my tights and striped socks.

I am torn about tomorrow. Brant says he has work for me, which is good cos man do I need the cash, but at the same time I really haven't had any time to just be at my house yet, and I really want to be home--to clean, especially my room, and to work on some hat jobs. I don't know what I'll do. I *have* to get these jobs done. I can prolly get them done tonight. But even if I do I still just feel like being home. I guess I'll decide in the morning.

Well, to work then!

It's cold outside and in my house, but I have a cat cuddled in my lap. I just finished repairing the brim of a hat for someone (yay paying jobs!); earlier I hopped on my bike and went down to the Kerry for a hot toddy and a couple games of pool with Tyrrell. Met up with Brant while I was waiting for T, and luckily Brant has some work for me this weekend. Yay! For I am in need of money on account of not working the past two weeks. While shooting pool, I got some extremely affectionate smooching from T. I've got a bit of a crush on him, and I think he's got a bit of a crush on me. ( he even called while I was in VA to ask when I was coming home.) I came home early from the bar to try working on my halloween costume (and T is coming over after he gets off work). I put it aside since I don't want to stress it. I guess I'll have to just throw some things together for our dress-up day at work tomorrow. I think I'll wait until Wednesday afternoon to do the mask (I've decided to be a phoenix). By then every thing else will have calmed down. Not sure what I'll wear tomorrow. It's sort of a case of too many options. I want to be warm and comfortable. Hmm. I'll come up with something before bed tonight.

Second half of vacation was awesome. I'm glad to know that First Year Mike hasn't really changed any. I love him just the way he is, although I'd like to see him get a bit more sure of himself some day. Everyone seems to be doing so well. I'm proud of us. I don't think any of us are doing things the way we expected, but we're at least making the most of what we are doing. It was especially fun to dance with the old crew again. At several points I looked up to see that pretty much everyone in the room was staring at us. "oh right. We're the brown college kids. Right." Oh well!

I'm thrilled I got to spend so much time with Becca. Of course I could've spent more time with her (although by the end I was very anxious to get home), but it was long enough that I didn't feel rushed at any point. Becca always amazes me with how bright and clear her spirit is, even when things are bothering her and life gets fucked up.

Also I got a whole two feet done on Doctor Who Scarf v 2.0. Which reminds me that there's a new episode of Torchwood out. I must remember to watch it. OH and while I was in Waukegan I got really into The Tudors. I highly recommend it. The costuming is a little strange --almost right, but missing some important elements. But the cast is gorgeous and talented, and the writing is dark and witty.

I need to clean. At least I did laundry.

All packed. I'm going out to the restaurant to have lunch with my family, then heading straight to the airport from there. It was a good time being home; as usual I didn't manage to spend as much time with certain people as I would have liked, but I at least snuck in an hour or so here and there.

Hi East Coasters, I'll see you tomorrow!

BY the way, Katie, I know you read these and I have to say you really ought to at least get an LJ account so you can read my private posts. I've been making a point of locking pretty much all of my posts recently.

At the moment I am very hungry. I ate very little today because while I've been at my folks' place I've eaten *way too much rich, fatty, hard-to-digest food*, and the most exercize I've had was walking around the mall in my search of brown stockings to wear to the wedding this weekend. Then today I took a walk down to the high school's football/track/baseball field and the CVS. But rather than get my heart rate up, all I did was make my knee sore (bike riding is way easier on my knees than walking-another reason it is my preferred mode of travel) and oh this old mexican dude on a tiny bike followed me for a while asking in broken English if I was married or single. Dammit.

However I did get several things accomplished today. I finally went through and sorted all my belongings that are still being housed here in Waukegan. It's actually less than I had feared, and is mostly books. I'm ok with my books living here a few more years. Other things still here: toys (which I have left to my nephew and future nieces), and miscellaneous things that have mostly sentimental value but that I'm not ready to get rid of yet. Notes passed to me from Katie in Calculus class, etc. I did manage to throw away/donate a lot of things as well, which makes me feel good because it's nice to finally let go of SOME things, even if I can't let go of every thing. I even let go of much of my yarn/patterns/fabric scraps collection, partly because it's old and icky, and partly because I simply do not have room and won't likely have room for it for a long time.

So far my favorite finds in all of this were
1) a love letter from an ex boyfriend that reminded me why I loved him to begin with, no matter how things ended,
2) a book about guitar chords that will be coming home with me,
3) a letter from my brother Chris upon my graduating from High School saying "this is the last day of the most boring part of your life"
4) all my old books of poetry/copies of the lit magazine I edited in high school, which served to make me consider even briefly the idea of picking up writing again. Every one had such high hopes for me as a writer. It's weird to even think about it now. Feels like a different life time, really. There was a point in college where I suddenly became a different person, and I won't belabor you with the details of what that was, but in any case I feel confident that my creative energies have merely been shifted and refocused, not diminished. But I think of myself in high school and can't hardly recall being that person any more. Strange.

On a similar subject, a swim team buddy found me on myspace this week. I haven't talked to her since graduation and haven't really even heard news of her, but it sounds like she is happy now and doing pretty well. She regretted not keeping in touch with me, and wants to be in better contact now. This is pretty cool. To be honest I mostly forgot about her, as I have forgotten most people from high school, but I remember now that we were pretty close for a while. It's just one more way to reflect on who we were and what we've become. I feel so detached from that phase of my life, but I think it's good to be reminded occasionally. We move on.

I rock so hard core at pool.

YAY for never having to buy myself beer again.

Also: pfthbttt

new photos up on my portfolio. It's all there except for the last two hats I've done. Soon I hope to have some costumes up as well.

I just bought a serger!

I got my new glasses today. They're totally cute and sassy, and even a little bit sophisticated.

I also decided I'm getting a new bike, and have talked my parents into buying it for me as an early Christmas present. I've picked out the bike I want and I'm going to call the shop tomorrow and tell them, so hopefully I'll have it next week. They need to make some adjustments to it so that it has everything I want. I'm getting a different set of handle bars so I can sit up right better, and they're bolting on a wire basket to the front for my groceries. According to the company it's designed as a kid's bike, but it's so cute and it fits me so well. :) And it's got daisies on it!

It's fucking hot this week. I don't know why.

Going up to mendo this weekend.

wee.

What an interesting weekend.

I was self-indulgent beyond even my normal capacity yesterday.

I think Allison is amused by me.

I have spent too much time getting distracted by photos. Need to get back to work. Soldering leds! yay!

And then sometimes people step up and surprise you. Adam and Anthony: thanks for reminding me.

Today was quite a good day. I've been hired to make two Burning Man costumes. I'm nearly finished with one (all I have left to do is sew on some buttons) and I am very eager to start on the second. I am turning a big burly biker man into a rainbow-colored, sequined, and fuzzy Henry VIII. Complete with a neon rainbow leopard-print codpiece. I cannot tell you how much joy this gives me.

I also got a call from SWENDY! yay! Sorry I didn't call you back when I got home. I got kind of swept up into sewing things. But like I said you can always call me between 8am and 9am pacific time, as well as any time in the afternoon on Wednesdays.

Additionally I had a date. It was very nice. I am over my shell-shock from my last date.

another full week ahead of me.

By the way: I have updated my official photo gallery with professional images of the new hats. I hope next week to take photos of the rest of my hats and get them up there.

As an aside, for anyone interested... I do give friends a discount because I love them and cos I'm still learning. That being said, I have estimated the real value (that is, for anyone not a college buddy) of a custom-fit fedora at about $140, and the real value of a silk-embroidered and lined straw hat at $160. To be fair I was very effusive with Bayly's hat (I got a little carried away with enthusiasm), so less embroidery=less time and less money spent on silk, and therefore a cheaper hat.

Becca, I don't have an estimate on a derby/top hat, but I imagine it would be in the range of the fedora, though cheaper if you have a normal head size that I don't have to construct a block for like I did for Shane. Pft. A big floppy lady hat would depend on the material and amount of trim, but could potentially be done for under $100. Unless you want it made from straw braid. Then it will be lots. Sorry. I can't hire small chinese children to make hats for me yet. I am my own sweat shop. hah.

Today I shipped out my first two hat commissions :) Shane and Bayly: expect your hats in 3-5 buisness days through USPS priority mail. yay!

Additionally I got my notice of publication from the county clerk. That means I am officially DBA Bennett Millinery. Now I can go get my resale license. That'll have to happen next week I guess, since I ran out of time today.

I also started making my very own hat, finally, to wear to the Rush show on Friday. Not that I need to dress up. But there will be a lot of people, and it's good advertising. If I get even one person asking for my email I'll be happy.

Next I need to clean my house a little so my bro don't have to sleep on a nasty couch.

Then I get to go back to making ribbon trimmings for my hat.

Swendy: I'm sorry I didn't call. Any time when it would've been decent for me to call you, I was running around like crazy. I'll try again next weekend. Also if I don't, and you have a minute, feel free to call me. I try to have my cell around me but sometimes (like today) the battery is dead and I'm without a charger.

It was a good weekend, if exhausting. Details I cannot share other than that I played pool with Jillian on Friday and spent the night at a friend's house on Saturday and today ran errands like mad. I accomplished a lot I think and am satisfied, as well as looking forward to the next week's events.

A revised list:

Mail out a pair of hats
Go dancing with Jillian
Play DnD
Start burning man costume
Make a hat for myself
Draft Erte outfit (if there's time)
Hang out with MY BROTHER at the RUSH CONCERT

yay.

squeee my labels came this morning!


They are perfect. I'm so in love.

Life ROCKS.

Today was alright. I accomplished a lot at work and I'm exhausted. I also made a fantastic dinner and finished bayly's hat. Bayly: I really hope the hat fits. I tried it on myself and it feels right, but there's no extra room. It -can- be stretched if you need to. Add a little steam and then put it on your head. It'll fit to the right size. What's yer address, so I can get it in the mail soon as my labels get here?

My goals for next week: get my resale license, make a hat FOR MYSELF, draft the pattern for my Erte gown. If I happen to get all these things done, I will also start working on the vest for Mike's burning man outfit. Yay paying jobs.

also: amusing plans in the works. I'll fill you in as details develop.