This Week

July 25, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

I spent most of this week thinking it was a day ahead, until yesterday when I inexplicably switched to thinking it was a day past.

That pretty much sums it up.

Orders have started rolling in for Halloween, Burning Man and miscellaneous events, so I’ve been working on those.

As well as sneaking in some fun bits in between–like this Star Wars ruffle skirt:

2095

The garden has been exploding with the last of the summer squash and TONS OF CUCUMBERS, prompting a canning session (and another to come this weekend):

2084

I lost one of the Summer Squash Pickle jars…..first ever to just crack in the canner. But, one casualty isn’t so bad. Especially considering I’m always amazed that every single one doesn’t explode or turn black.

Side note: One of the best sounds in the world are the “pings!” of sealing jars after a looooooong day of canning.

As I was checking (the endless) online things I do each morning before heading into the studio, I remembered–NEW SEASON OF PROJECT RUNWAY STARTED LAST NIGHT!!! Is there anything better than remembering that your ALL-TIME-FAVORITE show has started a new season and you get to watch it? Not for this gal. At least not on a Friday morning. (I don’t have cable, so watch the episodes the day after online)

I won’t bore you with my thoughts and ideas (besides, I can’t hold a candle to Tom & Lorenzo’s re-caps), but I WILL share my top 3 of the night:

Char

Love-Love-LOVE this top (and a good circle skirt is ALWAYS a winner in my book). The draping in the shirt is lovely, and I would totally wear this. The shirt really sells it. Plus, Char is just pretty kick-ass so far. Gotta love a designer from DETROIT.

Alexander

I know this one will be controversial. The fabrics aren’t my favorite to go together–I would have loved to see that neck done in a solid rather than the Hawaiian Granny Floral. But I really like the cut to this, and how it flowed. Go figure, I like the tent dress. 😉

Carrie

I was surprised this one didn’t make it into the top 3. I think it was more interesting than at least one that DID make it. I’ll be interested to see what Carrie does this season–I think she has an interesting set of ideas, and I’m a sucker for a gal with day-glo hair. This is really architectural and interesting. A few less cut-outs would suit it better to my taste, but I think it’s a really good use of the print.

My favorite of the season (even though I really did NOT like her runway look) is Sandhya so far. That’s liable to change once we really get everyone’s aesthetic and personalities in play, but Sandhya has an amazing body of work, a point of view/voice, and she’s just really sweet. She’s got skills, and I hope those bitches don’t knock her around too much.

Happy weekend!

The Weekend

May 5, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Shots from over the weekend:

Working on some sideshow-banner-inspired artwork for an upcoming shoot:

This is the second one, which you can barely see (even with the wacky editing filter I used), but I had to share it due to the Buster Keaton photo-bomb:

The arugula in the garden was just BEGGING me to make one of our fav salads, Arugula-Fennel:

Requisite Garden Photos:

We worked a lot in the yard, as evidenced by the mountain of limbs/fronds/weeds that we left behind:

Over the Weekend

April 21, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

We were…..a bit lazy over the weekend.

I did a lot of cross-stitch (so close to finishing up a project that I’ve been working on for a few years).

Watched a lot of Netflix.

Made gyros. (I used the recipe here: http://thedomesticman.com/2012/04/05/gluten-free-homemade-gyro-meat)

Planted a teensy bit in the garden.

Mulled over paint choices.

Admired the roses.

Just kind of took it easy–just what I needed!

Weekend Happenings

April 14, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Wow, that weekend flew by. And I mean flew.

A little work in the yard & garden was accomplished….but very little.

Mostly, I was inside, sewing up a special Easter treat for one of my nieces!

I used Simplicity 1900 (find the pattern here: http://www.simplicity.com/p-7473-doll-and-clothes.aspx) , and it went together pretty easily–the legs and arms made me want to scream out in frustration, but only because they’re so teeny and fiddly–ugh!

The fabric for the dress is a Japanese print that I bought before I even HAD nieces. But I bought such small yardages of it (it was crazy expensive), I had never found a project small enough to use it in. Until now. 🙂 I couldn’t be happier with it–so pretty, and perfect for an Easter dress.

Another one is in the works for the other niece.

The garden is growing. Slowly. (I’m an impatient gardener)

The sage bloomed. I know I should cut the flowers, to keep the sage growing, but I hate to cut them–the bees love them.

Speaking of bees–after many, many, many attempts–I managed to capture (in a photo) one of my bumble bee buddies! They hover around me the whole time I’m outside, yet when I try to snap a picture, suddenly they have an urgent meeting to attend.

The roses are exploding!

And, I did the taxes. I always wait until pretty much the last minute.

Hope your weekend was lovely and felt longer than mine!

Over the Weekend

April 7, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

The weekend saw a stomach virus take down the Mr. I’ve managed to avoid it so far (*knocks on wood*), and was able to get some work done in the garden and yard. Weekends are pretty much devoted to that right now–I’m determined to be a good Southern gal with a kick-ass garden and beautiful yard. 😉

Things are getting greener and greener everyday around here, and it’s so amazing to see little plants popping up all over the place.

I’m fascinated with the garden, and love this time of year. Everything is new and bright and vibrant. And the heat isn’t trying to kill me yet.

The first rose of the season is rather bashful:

An explosion of roses is imminent:

The sage is about to bloom:

The veggie garden, as it looks today. We’ll be adding more boxes outside the fenced area, and I plan to do some raised beds along the fence, too (assuming I can get the Mr to build them). It looks brown and sad right now due to the mulch we’re using this year in place of the weed barrier we’ve gone with in previous years (and that I think caused the soil to get too hot). I can’t wait until you see more green than brown!

Peppers in pots.

Tomatoes and wee seedlings that you can barely see.

Tomatoes–mostly from store-bought plants this year, but I have one from seed at the end of the row (too tiny to see right now):

Hello Mr. Collards!

Wee zucchini:

Sugar snow peas, not quite tall enough to climb the trellis:

And arugula on the other side–I’m hoping the snow peas will shade the arugula so we can enjoy it for a little longer this year–it’s our favorite green:

I hope gardening posts aren’t excruciatingly dull for you all. It’s kind of what I’m obsessed with most at the moment, so be prepared for more. I’ll try to keep it to one post a week. 😉

Spring

April 2, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Spring has started to show it’s face around these parts in bursts and bright colors.

The azaleas have exploded in a hot pink fury of petals.

The bees are in heaven.

We have 5 regular big, fat, bumble bees that visit.

They hover around me anytime I’m in the garden.

Like they want to play.

I talk with them, and they buzz and zoom and dive.

I’m so glad they finally have some flowers to revel in!

A Pinterest thread led me to try growing some veg from cuttings that would normally go into the compost.

My kitchen window is bursting with wee romaine lettuces.

Scallions, too–which grow so fast!

I have plans to try the romaine in some potting soil next–perhaps a window box on the inside of the kitchen window?

It will be too, too hot for those dainty leaves all too soon outside.

Seedlings are emerging in the garden–I hope to snap some pics this weekend.

We’re back from an impromptu visit to SC. Two 12-hour drives within 4 days! A “Frozen” themed birthday party for an amazing 8-year-old. Much fun was had, and not a single picture did I manage to take. *sigh*

This Week

July 4, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Happy 4th of July!

I’m celebrating by working. 😉 Gotta grab the time when you can.

I’m cutting out a pretty cool costume, actually. I have the awesome task of making this costume:

Into a women’s version! So cool!

Blueberries were out this week at my grandfathers–yum! I froze these babies, and have been nibbling on them periodically, savoring and saving them as long as possible.

Some leggings went out early this week.

Over the past weekend I got the urge to paint–I do this every once in awhile.

I’m never as happy with the outcome as I want to be, but I love the process.

I have a whole haunted theme going, and a few paintings to complete. Two are in various stages of completion right now, none are completely done.

I reorganized my pens/pencils/markers. I’m a little too pleased by it.

Hope you’re enjoying a lovely day off. If only a BBQ were in my future….sadly, the husband was called out to a job yesterday and will most likely be gone through the weekend. And the kitties don’t grill.

Spring

April 9, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

As I headed out the door, this beauty greeted me with a big ol’ “Good Morning!”.

A visit to my grandfather is like a visit to the Farmer’s Market–but free!

When I came back home, these beauties had literally woken up in the time I was gone.

Oh, Spring–why can’t you stay longer? In just a month, I’ll be lamenting the heat and unrelenting sun. But, I do plan to soak in as much of this gorgeous weather as possible while it’s here.