The Box, Staghorn's, Updates & Balance

The Box:
About a month ago I was given this green box. It is a box full of craft supplies, stickers, cards, etc. The purpose is to go through it and take what you want and put in it things that you don't want or need anymore. It's a pretty good system. I finally went through it on Saturday. It was fun to go through. I took a few things and put a few things in. I will now pass the box on...

Staghorn Party:

On October 9th I had my Staghorn making party. Well not quite a party, but a few people did show up. That day was crazy. I had a planting the day before and had nothing ready for the party. I had to get up early Sunday. I woke up regretting having the party because I wasn't feeling well, had nothing ready and the apartment was dirty. I went across town and bought the ferns at an amazing nursery called Flora Grub. I also went to Michaels and Bev Mo for supplies and then to the beach to find drift wood to mount the ferns to. Lastly I picked up power tools and screws, etc. from a friend to use.

I hope every one's fern is surviving, but if it dies please don't tell me. The ferns party turned into us going out dancing in the Castro. Random!

Why am I having this party???
A guy asked, Are you building a house? No man I'm collecting wood for a craft party. Do you want to come?

Party in the back of my car!!!!

I think they all turned out great!

Updates:

My Halloween costume is almost finished. I just have a few things to stitch and it's done.

I cut out the pattern last night for a dress I am making for my brother's engagement party in November.

I am moving Dec. 1st. No not out of San Francisco, but to a neighborhood in San Francisco. The first place I looked at, I took. I will still have roommates, but the place is very chill. My room has a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and a balcony. There is a huge backyard, which I am allowed to plant up and have a garden. I have already recruited co-worker's to help me start a garden and landscape. I am super excited!!!!!

Balance:

I have been in a funk this week. Work has been stressful, I haven't been sleeping and I have noticed I am gaining weight. I haven't really been inspired and haven't been my funny peppy self. On Wednesday I am going to Venice Beach for a few days with a friend. We rented a little studio and I am super excited. Our plan is to relax, beach it, go to vintage shops, ride bikes, go out and dance, and I hopefully I can run on the beach every day. I hope to find inspiration in the funky people in Venice. I know this mini trip will bring my spirits back and I hope to find balance again in my life and to appreciate my my job again.

Laffing Sal isn't funny

I know the next few weeks will be busy and to avoid stress at the end about my costume, I designated today as "working on my costume day," because Halloween is right around the corner. I thought it would be appropriate to be Laughing Sal this year for Halloween. It's easy retro and very San Franciscan.

Laffing Sal was an automated character that was in front of the Funhouse at Playland. The gap-toothed, red-haired, plaster icon terrified generations of kids with her raucous laugh at San Francisco's defunct Playland-at-the-Beach. Playland-at-the-Beach was a magical place.

Today I hit up Goodwill and Thrift Town and found most of my costume: jacket, shirt, hat, ribbon and lace.

I still need a black tooth, white skirt and some bubble wrap to make me fat and jolly. I will have to do a little sewing then I can work on my creepy laugh.
Check out her laugh and see her in action at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51oH7Lhm_Lk

This year I will be manning the front of the "Scarecade." My friend Bert (Carnival Barker)usually makes a Haunted House, but this year he is making an arcade in his garage. He made a skee ball and a whack a ghoul. He has plans to make a scary devil basketball throw, a cemetery ring toss and a shooting gallery. I think the neighborhood kids will love it and the parents always know who I am dressed up as.

My inspiration for the costume came from seeing the movie "Remembering Playland" at my local theatre documenting the amusement park. It was also located at Ocean Beach at the western edge of San Francisco along the Great Highway, close to my neck of the woods. It opened in 1913 and finally shut down in 1972.

A great museum called Playland-not-at-the-Beach has opened up in El Cerrito. It is a great place to spend a few hours, seeing old artifacts and playing. They also, have over 30 pinball machines on free play. http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org/

What are you going to be for Halloween??????

"Your Ouffed"

Okay so I could never be on Project Runway for many reasons. First because I wouldn't finish in time. I would be the person still sewing it onto the model. Another reason would be that they would portray me as a bi-polar alcoholic. One moment she's cracking people up and saying inappropriate things and the next minute I would be crying (well maybe then they would keep me on for a few episodes for the ratings) and then they would cut to me drinking out of my flask. Tim would be saying that drinking is not a good way to use my time and that I won't have a critical eye if I have beer goggles on....stop me now....

Anyway per my previous post the challenge was to take something you already own and make it into something new. I took this tunic top and this terrible skirt and made it into a dress. I had to submit it by 9 pm last Thursday. I made this dress pretty much the day before the deadline and the photo shoot took place two hours before the deadline. And the submission happened right at 9 pm. It was probably even past due. BIG FAIL!!!!!! "Your ouffed" as Heidi would say.

How did I make it you ask. Well I first cut most of the tunic off. Then I cut the the back of the tunic and the skirt in half. I then sewed the two together. Then I made the top so that you could see my back. I cut the skirt shorter and hemmed it and took that fabric and sewed two pieces across the back. I added an invisible zipper and a button in the back as well.

On Thursday after work I threw it on and went on "location" for the photo shoot. It took place down at the old Sutro Baths. Bert set up the shots and took the pictures. I liked using the props. It was pretty fun. Cold, windy, rainy, dangerous conditions... The life of a model is not what it is cracked up to be. :)

On burdastyle.com it's gotten over 200 views and someone favorited it.
(flask shot)

Life has been hectic. With work, a packed social life and dating I haven't had much time to myself. The Sally time I do have I am running, juicing and I have started writing my comedy routine. I still haven't seen last weeks Project Runway and will not see this week's either. That's how busy I am. San Francisco is where I am supposed to be and I will be here for a long time, but it sometimes gets overwhelming. There is too much to do and too many events.

I can't believe it's October and for me that means I need to start cracking on my Halloween costume. A post about that coming soon. This month I also want to start making a simple engagement party dress for my brother and his fiance's party. Some other projects I have in my head are a red dress for my 30th Birthday and a rehearsal dinner dress for my brother's wedding. I would make a dress for the wedding, but I am in the wedding party. Yay! Thanks Allison. I can't wait!