Slinkerbell: A Weapon of Mass Creation

Back to sewing!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:04:00 -0700

I finished the Los Angeles Marathon in 4 hours and 52 minutes! I met all my goals; to run the whole thing and to do my best. I honestly don't think I could have squeezed another minute out of myself. It was hard - the hardest thing I've ever done. I haven't had kids yet, but boy, if I can run a marathon - well, let's just say I'm not too worried about childbirth!

I've also finshed a few articles of clothing - the funky suit and the 'urban kimono'. I'm really happy with how the kimono turned out! here's a pic of me wearing it lookin all japanime:

Next I'll be working on getting playa wear up on my etsy site. I'll be doing lots of accessories and some bikini bottoms and cage dresses: totally impractical and not sensible - not stuff you'd wear to the grocery store! But that's the kind of stuff I like to create. This life is short - we should be playing dress-up more often!

Marathon

Mon, 11 May 2009 16:27:00 -0700

The Los Angeles marathon is in two weeks (yikes!) - I feel so unprepared, but i don't think any amount of running would change that. When I run I challenge myself mentally with little things; run 10% faster for a full song, focus energy into core muscles or upper body, pick up speed while running downhill. But I think this marathon is going to be all about simply doing my best. I want to run the whole thing (save a bathroom stop if I need it, gatoraid, and water stops) - I'm pretty sure I can do that. I don't expect to be in great condition when I finish, I know it's gonna hurt like hell, but I need to do this. It's hard to explain why; I don't even know if I'm going to have that feeling of accomplishment afterward or if I'm going to say "one more - or ten more". I don't really enjoy running that much, but it's kind of therapeutic and it definitely feels good when i push myself.

So, here's to finishing what I've started and conquering my fears - I'll be posting my time in two weeks!

Update

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

heya, it's been a long time! i've been busy, but enjoying life. i'm doing LOTS of new things; i've decided to run the Los Angeles Marathon on May 25th, i'm studying to become a certified personal fitness trainer, and, while my sewing has slowed down, i'm working on two commissioned pieces that are quite fun and interesting. the first is a suit based off this picture of David Byrne (the second to the right)

Fab, isn't it?! the second piece is an 'urban kimono' i'm reconstructing from a silver jacket - i'm thinking of adding chinese floral fabric, chinese knot buttons, and antiqued brass studs, and possibly a yin-yang symbol on the back. i'll post pix when finished!

all is well in apple valley - burning man is on my mind lately - i can feel the creative energy returning and brewing. scott made a radio station that plays the sickest music - check it out if you have a chance: http://radio.spotman.net:8000/listen.pls

felix is sick, but i'm taking him into the doc today to see if he needs meds. poor little guy's been sneezing up a storm the past two days. i hope it's just allergies and not a respiratory infection. lawdy, i'm such a mom!

studying for the exam with NASM - who i'm getting certified through - is harder than expected but good exercise for my brain. i haven't had to memorize anything since university, my brain gets tired easily - but i think the brain is like your muscles...it just needs to be exercised then it will get better, more efficient at retaining and processing information.

alrighty, here i go!

Happy Birthday

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:58:00 -0700

Felix Rushforth entered this world ten years ago today. Well, maybe not exactly, but it's the anniversary of when Scott brought him home from the animal shelter. The shelter said he was about 6 years old - a healthy and beautiful cat; I'll never know why his previous owners didn't try harder to find him or check at that shelter. But I don't question too hard - their loss is definitely our gain. And Felix's I hope:)

Animal Shelters generally don't allow black cats to be adopted around halloween. Felix had been there almost three months - his time was running out and the shelter knew that. So when Scott went to pick out a cat, one of the workers pointed at Felix, and let him know he had been there for quite a while, but that he seemed like a nice cat. Scott said he knew right away - and that's the story of how Felix first came into his life.

I wasn't around then - when I came into the picture they were batching it at Olive Tree Apartments in Pasadena, CA. Scott and I were dating and I was just getting to know Felix - I remember one night in particular we had ordered in chinese food and were watching anime. Felix climbed up to the top of the couch and layed down right behind me with his tail curled around my neck. I knew I was in - I got the approval of Felix:) But it also was the beginning of a very special relationship between me and him.

Here's Felix at our house in Apple Valley, CA - Scott walked in the room and saw him staring intently through the window. When he got closer, he realized there was a gecko staring right back at Felix. Ever since that incident, he's been pretty excited about catching lizards and bringing them in our house. He usually presents it as a gift to us first, then he plays with it for a while...letting it go, then pouncing on it and batting it in the air. The only thing I've seen him eat is a grasshopper, which is cool with me. Once he caught a little mouse, and it was kinda hard for me to watch - but he didn't eat it, he just scared the living daylights out of it.

I could go on and on about him - I've never had a cat before; I mostly grew up around dogs. I just can't believe what a personality he has. I'm pretty sure lots of people say that about their pets...even their pet snakes..ha! One of the coolest things about our relationship is that I know he loves me so much. He's become a bit of a mommy's boy, but only when he's around me. I think he humors me:) He's also gotten much more talkative in the last year or two.

So here's to another ten years with Felix - I love you Felix-kun!

Back from the dunes

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:59:00 -0700

Spotman and I are back from our trip to the dunes in Southern Oregon. It was so much fun - in fact, those words don't describe how awesome it was. For you snowboarders out there - you know that feeling you get when you're carving through perfect powder in some beautiful backcountry? It's euphoric, epic, spiritual almost! Well, that's the feeling I got riding the dunes.

My cr125, Little Monster, did her best to keep up, and she did mostly. But she finally had enough of me winding out full throttle and blew a gasket at the top of a pretty steep hill. When I got to the top white smoke was spewing out her exhaust pipe and Scott quickly made the 'kill' sign signaling me to shut the bike down before further damage was done. Fortunately it was towards the end of the trip and my father-in-law let me use his quad the rest of the time.
Quad riding is fun, especially in the trails, but I think I'm more of a dirtbike girl.

It was a wonderful place to learn and get better at jumps, turns, and trailriding. Scott brought it so hard, he had to bail on this one - but not before he got about 12 feet of air!

He was fine after the bailout; in fact, it was picture perfect and neither him nor his bike sustained injury. He was landing some pretty serious jumps - it was really cool to see him getting better literally before my eyes. Actually, I think he's been this good, it's just that the terrain is especially good for jumping and turning. I'd like to find some dunes down in socal to ride at - it's my new favorite riding terrain.

Despite the fact that both our bikes were out of commission by the time we left, we had an awesome time! Not only was it fun riding, but it was cool to hang with fam, and experiencing the Oregon coast was breathtaking. I'd definitely consider moving there one day!

Political ramblings and drinking games

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:23:00 -0700

When i heard about the Vice Presidential debate drinking game on twitter, i knew i'd be in for a fun night. politics have never been very exciting to me - in fact, sad to say, i've always been rather apathetic about politics. but after i read Hunter S. Thompson's 'Fear and loathing on the campaign trail '72' this past summer - i began to see politics in a new light. hunter saw politics much like he saw sports; except in politics, they play much dirtier. hunter said, "politics is the art of controlling your environment".

much like in a playing field or basketball court, politicians try to manipulate and manuever their plays so that their idea of life will prevail. and that's why this drinking game is not just some cute/quirky answer to the ridiculousness of current politics - it is precisely what politicians have set themselves up for. it's never felt more right, even during the '04 world series, to be drinking and jeering at a sporting event. and i'm really not trying to make light or be funny (well, maybe a little funny:) - i will definitely be voting come november. but i hope that the man i vote for is either A. funny, or B. smart, with the best option being C. Both - because i think if anyone is going to be both good at politics and relevant to us, they can't take themselves, or politics too seriously. remember candidates: this is all a big game...and the country is getting drunk watching it!

Sold the Holly Dress

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:42:00 -0700

I just sold this dress:

As always, I was excited when I sold it. But today I got a thank-you email from the girl who bought it. Apparently she loves it, it fits 'like a glove', and she's going to wear it to her homecoming dance! That's all the encouragement I need to keep going. Just knowing that some girl is going to love this dress and rock it at her hs dance puts a smile on my face:) I know it's just a dress - but it's so encouraging to know other people like the stuff i make!

Welcome to my blog!

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:55:00 -0700

I finally finished a dress today:

It feels good to create and finish something. When i create something, it gives me even more stamina - I imagine it's similar to running a marathon. The first quarter of the race is just raw will - pushing your body to it's limits...making the physical decision to run then following through with it. Then, once you've ran that first ten miles, your mind takes over and stamina kicks in. I read something the other day that went something like this, "Our highest motivation enlarges our sense of what we can accomplish"

My motivation, when fully realized into something tangible, empowers me more than any outside stimulus. Isn't it interesting that I AM MY OWN inspiration? It's like perpetual motion...all I have to do is get it started!