Why I Love My Local Joann's

My local Joann's, in the OC hamlet of Buena Park, is one of the better ones out there, from selection of items, to, well, the sales associates and cashiers.

Case in point-- I went in last night to buy some Sands Alive sand-- $7.99 a bag (2 lbs), on sale (regular price $17.99). The cashier said, "Seriously, don't get it here", and proceeded to tell me that at the 99 Cent Only store, on Walker and Ball, the SAME PRODUCT, SAME SIZE and everything, was a mere $1.99. I was skeptical, after all, some products sold at that chain are... well... cheap. And not worth the money you pay for them.

But I was wrong. It's the same stuff, and at that low price, I've picked up six bags-- 12 lbs-- for LESS than the original price. It's easy to color, using Wilton Gel Icing Colors, and I have several pastel shades. I may end up adding glitter as well, even though I have a definite love/hate relationship with glitter.

Anywho, if you're in California, Arizona, Texas, or Nevada, go by the 99 Cent Only store, and pick up some of this interesting play medium (and not just for kids). I find when I have a migraine or cluster headache, it helps to palpitate something in my hands (or knit-- either works well).

While it feels like a bit of sandy cookie dough, it molds and holds up like play dough. This particular brand has little to no smell, and is one of those "clean" toys which leaves virtually no mess and is easy to clean up. It's also a more easy to color white/gray shade, so coloring it to whatever vibrant shade under the rainbow is easy (just wear gloves, unless you want Rainbow Brite hands!). 

Trouver l'inspiration dans la nature

The title of this post is simply, "Finding inspiration in nature."

One of my favorite places here in SoCal is, well, the beach. That goes for pretty much anywhere in the world I've ever been. I love the beach-- the feel of the air, the sounds of waves pounding the shore, of seagulls loudly calling, of feeling sand between my toes, of wading in the water... there isn't much about the beach I don't like.

And of course, I tend to find inspiration in crafting, and in art, at the beach. I'm a very Irish Catholic sort, and find a lot of joy, and also, proof of God's existence, in nature. If you go back far enough I'm pretty sure me Mum's Mum's father's family probably worshipped nature gods and "the" Goddess.

Yesterday in a day trip down to Seal Beach, CA, I wondered in an AWESOME shop-- California Sea Shell Company-- on Main Street. I spent nearly all of my allotted parking time-- at least 45 minutes-- wondering around, picking out shells they had, and also finding inspiration in some of their already made products. One of the things I liked the most was a "jewelry dish" made out of a large oyster shell, and in looking through all of their many shells and other products, I decided I could make my own, have fun doing so, and for less than the one they had for sale. Yes, it's "copying" another artisan/crafter, but imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery. Many of the shells were on sale, so I was able to get all I need to make jewelry, the dish, and a few other "sea inspired" goods.

I'll post pics of my finished products when I'm done.

I also intend to make "California" ornaments, using two Ann Clark cookie cutters (shape of CA, a palm tree), and this clay recipe-- Homemade Sand Clay Recipe --  perhaps for gifts for NEXT Christmas, perhaps as something I could sell on Etsy for "shits and giggles" money...

Also yesterday... a trip into Encino into our (my husband and my own) attorney's office, and a swing by Mrs. Beasley's, and my sweet tooth is VERY HAPPY. Not to mention, I have a nice tin in which to gather sand in on my next swing through Seal Beach (or Huntington Beach, or Manhattan Beach, or Malibu or Dana Point... needless to say, there are LOTS of beaches around here).   

New Prototype Doll from Via-E

You may recall my previous post on Via-E's Alexis O'Shay doll. Sometime in 2015, the first "friend" doll, Tatiana Nayara Oliveiera, will be released. Hopefully I'll be working soon, and will be able to pre-order this doll. For a limited time, the Tatiana doll is $68, which is a VERY competitive price for a doll of this quality. Alexis (and her soon to be released Dollfriend Tatiana) is made of high quality vinyl, that doesn't "smell" like some dolls do. She can also get wet, go in a pool, take a bath or shower with her child companion... she can also move more realistically than an AG doll, due to her joints a lot like the MUCH MORE expensive Kids N Cats dolls.

I especially like everything I hear about the Via-E company. It's a family-owned business, and the creator of the Alexis doll, Ellen, is a very warm, very personable person from interactions I've had with her, both here on my blog and on the Via E Dollfriends Facebook page.

Her interactions in promoting the doll in local Los Angeles/Orange County/California toy stores are genuine. She doesn't downtalk a child's existing doll, but points out how they'd make a good companion or Dollfriend for their existing dolls. Nor does she talk down any other doll company, which is something I appreciate. I tend to not do business or like companies which engage in backbiting of others in the same industry. I try to shop local, and TECHNICALLY, I'm still a Californian. Via-E is headquartered just down a way from Azusa, in San Clemente, CA. I also prefer to support small businesses over national corporations whenever possible. Via-E is a small, independent doll company.

Anyways, if you like the Alexis doll, you should pre-order Tatiana. If you like to spread diversity in the toy box, Tatiana is an excellent way of doing this, as she represents an Indian/Black Brazilian girl. She should be released this year, but manufacturing issues beyond Via E's control MAY delay release of the doll. It was this way with Alexis, and sometimes dealing with overseas (China) toy makers can be tedious, due to language barriers, time zone barriers, and the like.

I know I'll continue to be part of the Via-E company as soon as I'm working and have the money to buy the Tatiana doll. I'm a 33 year old woman, time to stop relying on my Mom to buy me dolls, and buy them for myself if I want to do so! And I have... I've bought 3 AG dolls out of my spending money (two JLY dolls and the Saige GOTY doll). And some togs for Alexis, since American Girl brand clothing and others don't always fit the best, as the Alexis doll is slightly slimmer and taller than a standard AG doll.

This makes me sad...

This isn't about crafting; if you have an issue with that, please, don't hesitate to leave.


When I hear of cases like this-- Teen Girl Writes Heartbreaking Post Before Committing Suicide -- it makes me want to cry. It makes me angry. It also, in a way, makes me thankful.

Before you dogpile on me, I'm thankful I didn't grow up in today's "share everything on social media" era. I'm thankful I didn't have Facebook, Myspace, Keek, Instagram, or any of the other popular social media forums.

I know what it's like to be in such deep despair due to cruel taunting, bullying, and such. I know many were bullied, and it's time for us to share our stories-- and hopefully prevent more tragedies like Amber's. I didn't know her in life. I wish I would've. I wish I could've told her-- and I'm telling other teens now-- IT GETS BETTER. It may not get better immediately. But it will get better in time.

I am NOT ashamed of things, and perhaps if the bullies see this, they'll realize just how much their conduct shaped me... and them. Taylor Swift's song "Mean" comes to mind.

The more stories I see like this, the more thankful I am I didn't have Facebook or Myspace when I was a teen. I was bullied enough without them. I continue, in my adult life, to be bullied on the Internet. A few incidents from my childhood still sting, many more years later than I care to admit.

One in particular hurts more than the rest. In fifth grade (Fall of 1991, I was 10), a girl named Amy drew a caricature of me, as a vampire (my canine teeth are relatively "long", and yes, I am INCREDIBLY sensitive about it). She made photocopies of this cruel, crude drawing, passed them around my classes, and I just happened upon one of them after it had been out for a few days. When she saw that I had seen it, she attempted to shove me down to get the cruel drawing out of my hands before I could show it to the principal or to my mother or a teacher. She didn't succeed (even back then I was a solid fighter when necessary), but she also didn't get in trouble. And furthermore, her little copies of the drawing followed me... to middle school, to high school... every so often, it'd surface again. And why? I don't get it, I guess because I don't have the bully mentality. Was she jealous I consistently got "better parts" than her in school assemblies/music performances? Was she jealous I was often times singled out for praise by my teachers? Was she being bullied by someone herself, and chose to take it out on someone she perceived as "weaker" than herself? I don't know why someone would purposely try to hurt another person. 

I'm thankful for that lack of understanding. I'm thankful that my parents raised me to treat others with kindness, to treat others as I wanted to be treated. I'm thankful I was taught the difference between right and wrong. I'm thankful I had so many caring individuals in my life, who literally kept me alive in some of my darkest hours.

I just don't know what I would've done if social media was as prevalent as it was then. It was hard enough. So many times I'd wonder if anyone would miss me if I was gone. I have my journals from back then, and can't believe how painful and angst filled my teen years were. So many days I'd come home from school and cry.

Like the time I'd been bullied the whole two hours during a band "sectional"-- I was an oboe player in with the flute players, because we were in the same key (C), and the other oboists were in Wind Ensemble (a higher group than Concert Band, which I was in). They criticized the way my part sounded, when, of course, our parts were different. They criticized my embouchure (how you hold the double reed in your mouth when playing), when of course, NONE of them could make so much as a squeak with MY instrument (and I could play all of theirs as well as they could!). They ripped me for everything (appearance, clothes, etc), and then isolated me in a different room, making it impossible for me to get out. If it hadn't have been for TRUE friends letting me out, I would probably still be upstairs at my middle school! My Mom had JUST gotten me calmed down from all of this, and mind you, we lived three and a half miles (about 10 minutes away) from my school, when we turned the corner onto our street and saw an ambulance at our house. My father was having a heart attack, the first of three. Luckily, he survived, but it's one of those events which will always sting me.

To those who bullied me in the past, and those who continue to bully me, I have one thing to say: FUCK YOU. And "I'm sorry." I'm sorry your life was so sucky you had to try to drag me down. I'm sorry the way you build your self esteem up is to tear another down. I'm sorry you were envious enough of me to try to make me disappear. Guess what? You all didn't succeed. And now, when I see you, I see what time has done to you and your appearance, and inwardly, the feeling of satisfaction I have is sweeter than the finest Droste chocolate.

Yes... it gets better. It just might take years. And while it's the hardest thing to smile through pain, to live when the alternative would be easier, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT do something permanent-- suicide-- over something so temporary. High school ends; your life shouldn't. Bullies suck, I know. So to anyone reading this, when you feel you can't go on, PLEASE, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline '1-800-273-TALK (8255)-- and live.

To Amber's friends and family-- you are in my thoughts and prayers. Our hopes are shared; that Amber's story reaches the masses... and that another tragedy is averted. That bullying comes out of the shadows, that it, someday, is like dust in the wind.

If you have ever been bullied, as I have in my life, SHARE YOUR STORY. Come out of the shadows. Don't let the bullies win... show them they are what they want you to feel like: NOTHING. NOT WORTH IT.

YOU ARE SO PRECIOUS! YOU ARE LOVED... so please, realize your worth, how much you're loved. 

Have yourself a merry little (Rainbow Looming) Christmas...

When the Rainbow Loom craze started, I admit I was skeptical. I admit I didn't quite get the craze, didn't get the hype, didn't understand it.

I've been like this with nearly every trend since the 90's, so that's nothing new.

I admit I didn't start reading the Harry Potter series until two weeks before Book 7 came out. My bad. I then literally was up all night reading Book 1. And then HAD TO HAVE the rest of the series. It's a good thing I was working and could buy the books!

Last spring, I FINALLY decided to buy a loom kit. I initially bought the knock off, cheap-o version of the Rainbow Loom, the D-I-Y Loom Band Kit. It was flimsy but got the job done. Before long, I was hooked (pun intended). After much begging on my part to my (not-so-long-suffering) husband, I bought my first Rainbow Loom, at the Michaels store in Long Beach Towne Center. And then, because I'd acquired a few knock-off looms and had one on the way (slow boat from China, natch!), I decided to try something which I now call "loom band diplomacy".

I knew the phenomenon was BIG with children, and knowing of several families in our "Palais des Cafards" apartment complex (a nice name for the sad reality... this is about the worst place I've seen or lived in) with pre-teen or teenagers, I decided to "pay it forward" with my now less-than-desirable DIY loom kits. Believe me there when I say there is NO comparison between the original Rainbow Loom and any knock-offs. Our former neighbors who moved into a one-story apartment in the complex following a car accident where one of the teen daughters was seriously injured and couldn't readily climb stairs like those in our townhouse (and theirs, we shared a wall) got one (and the three teens of the family promptly began to fight over it, natch, so I ended up giving them my spare Monster Tail loom, which, naturally, they fought over); our neighbor on the end got one (and she was sooooooo happy and by the next day her whole family had new bracelets!); and her BFF got one. Needless to say, I have a rep now in the apartment complex. When the kids run out of loom bands, they usually come to me.

Which is why I have a "stash" now... partly for my own use, because I too partake of the looming fad, and yes, partly for the inevitable. They say for every dollar spent on education or on children, it results in yields of over $8. I've also heard that for every dollar spent on education, $100,000 of taxpayer money is saved (which would've been used on incarceration of criminals). And considering the negativity girls here in Azusa COULD fall into (teen pregnancy, drug/alcohol use, street gangs, etc), if I can give them something else to do, I WILL CERTAINLY TRY IT. Besides, when they have something to do, they're less apt to be out running amuck and screaming (which my migraines will thank me for!).

It did about break my heart-- our closest neighbor's (on the end) daughter was soooooooooo pleased when I gave her a new supply yesterday. She'd had to stop making bracelets because she ran out of bands. She ran right in to her apartment and "stashed" them, presumably in a safe place. The ones I bought cost $1, and I ended up getting others for an average price of 67 cents due to a sale Joann Fabrics was having. Something that I enjoy doing, and something which literally costs very little to do, was something this girl's family couldn't afford. And since her two friends were there, I couldn't NOT give them something. I went down to Joann's in Covina, and pretty much bought them out (just kidding, they still have PLENTY). The girls now have glittery bands, glow in the dark bands, shimmery bands, etc., and they're all happily making bracelets again.

Which brings me warm fuzzies... even more so than making my own "jewelry" out of rubber bands. To see a child smile, or take joy in something, well, it makes my day.   

DIY Doll Clothes Fabric Pack like Pixie Faire's Pixie Pack(s)

I like the Pixie Faire patterns, and think their "Pixie Packs" are a good idea, albeit somewhat overpriced, kitschy ones that tend to sell out pretty quickly.

Case in point-- the O'Brien Pixie Pack. http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/pixie-packs/products/pixie-packs-obrian-bay-outfit-collection -- unfortunately, it, like many, sold out within hours of being listed on the site. If you like the fabrics in the pack, you're out of luck.

SOURCE: http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/pixie-packs/products/pixie-packs-obrian-bay-outfit-collection (Screenshot)

Or are you? The answer is NO. Fabrics VERY CLOSE to what are available in that pack are available other places... for more reasonable prices. While the pack offers small pieces of fabric, if you buy from other sources, you'll have a yard or more, and will be able to make the outfit(s) many more times. The Pixie Packs are, on average, $25, plus shipping, and contain less than a yard of fabric total. When you DIY a similar pack, you'll have several yards of fabric.

TOP (Seafoam knit)-- http://www.fabric.com

BOTTOM (Lace dot)-- http://www.lowpricefabric.com

TOP & BOTTOM-- http://www.fabric.com

Notions, including zippers and buttons, can be found here-- Doll Zippers and Etsy Zipit Shop for zippers; Buttons for Doll Clothes and More; general notions, Nancy's Notions,

Needless to say, "doing it yourself" will result in a more customized pack, and one that you can pretty easily duplicate. 

Hiatus Explained...

I haven't blogged in awhile... nearly two months. Not that an explanation is ever necessary, because those who matter to me already know why I wasn't blogging, but this is for those who find following my every move online is an "amusing sport." That my life, as I live it, is too "unreal to be true, therefore, I MUST BE lying". And that "Melinda harassment is constitutionally protected free speech" (that coming from one studying to be a lawyer, which scares the crap out of me). I have been afraid to blog, not knowing what or who might be lurking around the corner. Because of people I do not know, have never met, and hopefully will never meet, and what they do, I can't live my life as I choose. It sucks. I'm not doing anything in violation of the law, I'm not doing anything to "bother" any of them (aside from belonging to the same forum, and I've kept my membership open there for a reason). Yet they follow me around the Internet, they post personal identifying information about me ON their site (which is in violation of their own clauses), and that's okay in their minds. They don't see what they're doing as wrong, but they see me being alarmed by it as abnormal. What's worse is that one of them on the site initially "invited" me to there... just so they could continue the snarking.

UPDATE: Petrie is a FALLOW cockatiel, not a cinnamon. Possibly also a pied. See below pic.

These memes are for them:

ANYWHO: My grandfather died late in the evening on September 11th. It wasn't unexpected, as he was 98 years old and had been in declining health due to a series of strokes for awhile (since November of 2012). The POS caregiver(s) he had at the end certainly didn't contribute to his staying with us for longer, but on my previous visit when I saw the diagnosis of "vascular dementia, as a result of cerebrovascular accident" on his hospital discharge papers from July, I thought it would be a minor miracle if he made it to his birthday.

His 98th birthday was September 6th. He left this Earth to his eternal heavenly home five days later. I didn't find out about his death until late September 13th when I got home from working at the LA County Fair, in the same way my sister Melissa did: a posting on our Mom's Facebook page. YES, she neglected to call BOTH of us. And NO, neither of us will let her forget that for awhile, LOL. We missed the burial, since it was a "natural burial" shortly following his passing, on the Monday following his death. The memorial service was scheduled for October 6th, and I flew up to PDX on September 30th.

While I had my laptop with me, I didn't have Internet access except on my phone. Needless to say, blogging on a phone-- even an iPhone 6 (which is pretty freaking sweet, by the way)-- is next to impossible. Because my husband and I aren't at our house full-time yet, getting Internet access (likely with Verizon FiOS, which we have now) is unnecessary. Ordinarily, there's a signal strong enough to "leech" off of, but there wasn't in my neighborhood, though my laptop did detect multiple "unprotected" networks... and attempted to connect to them.

I stayed up in Washington for several more weeks-- a month and four days, to be exact-- following the service.

My husband and I are now "pet parents" to two bound-to-be incredibly spoiled male kittens-- Tigger (an orange tabby) and Eeyore (very fluffy gray and white with impressive "ear furnishings"-- he no doubt has some Maine Coon in him somewhere)(see below pics), in addition to our cinnamon pied (possibly split to lutino), possibly pearl cockatiel Petrie. Once we're in Washington, our extremely spoiled cockatiel Petrie won't be able to free fly anymore... so she may need a bigger cage. Husbandito has said he wants to get a dog, "something big", but I'm not really much of a dog person... especially big dogs. After what my parents' neighbor's dog did to two of their cats, I think anyone would hate big dogs. Maybe someday we'll get an Alaskan Klee Kai, which looks like a Husky, but is only about a third of the size of "regular" husky dogs.

But until then, we have Tigger and Eeyore. And they're precious...

And no, I didn't pose Tigger like this-- he and Eeyore often lay close to each other and often put a paw around the other. They groom each other, play together, and genuinely seem to like one another. They're brothers of different mothers. 

Just waking up from a nap... 

Eeyore was trying to nap, and when my Mom came in the door, he woke up. Which, obviously, he resented. 

Note the "red" iris. That's a FALLOW characteristic in response to a camera flash (this being from my iPhone 5S, has been replicated with other iPhone models as well as a Samsung Galaxy S5).

Apparently my shoulder is a comfy sleeping place!

My photos are my own. As the owner of these pictures, I am allowed to post them wherever I desire, and others are not allowed to leech them, link to them, etc. I am publishing them here, but that does not mean I'm giving permission for them to be posted anywhere else, unless of course I choose to post them elsewhere. I REPEAT-- I DO NOT grant permission for these images to be published anywhere else. If in fact, these images DO turn up elsewhere, and it was not myself who posted them, I will take it as a violation of  CPC 422, 653.2 (what has been done to me and any theft of images is most closely within these parameters), and 653m and take appropriate measures. The same applies to any "abnormal" web traffic from certain sites or sources; that too is a violation of those legal provisions, most specifically, again, 653.2. It isn't "rubbernecking" or being a "rubbernecker", it's being creepy and alarming. Get a new hobby; I could suggest a few. But since certain people cannot seem to do this, that's why I have to post a warning here. And as a fellow Californian, I would think a certain "blog owner" would WANT to be with her newborn during certain critical months. Remember: I have evidence dating back four fucking years. Enough already.