So Sylvie

As-Is Curtains: they really mean it

I bought some sets of curtains from the Ikea as-is department and found out when I went to hang them that one of four panels is about two feet shorter! I will work with it.

click to enlarge

I'm gong to take one of the long panels and divide it into two and hang one on either side of these two in the photo. It should fill out the windows just enough. I might take the short panel and make it into a roman shade.

Got to get to sewing now. Cheers!

Let the roller derby begin!

When I was out doing my errands yesterday I came upon a little something that made me think of my dear friend Scott Waterman. I venture to guess that at that very moment the postal carrier was placing a package from him on my doorstep. When I returned home I discovered it. I'm surprised my new neighbors didn't call the authorities when my screams, amplified by the cathedral ceiling, rang out upon opening this totally psychic gift!!

Let me explain. I first "met" Scott on Flickr in the winter of 2007 (seems like you've always been there). That fall he posted photos of some items he would be selling at his yard sale in Los Angeles. I couldn't make it, but I told everyone I knew in the area, "You have to go!" Among the items he was parting with were his collection of Rollerwall rollers. Over the years I regretted not having gotten them. And more recently, sitting across from a dreary wall in my new place it came back to haunt me. "I wish I had those rollers from Scott."

Well VOILA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's so smart, he even included swatch fabric for me to create samples of each pattern. I'm in heaven! The landlady comes to town next week so I can run it by her. But I've always thought this was the perfect solution for a rental home where you'd like to be able to wallpaper but the removal upon leaving would be too laborious. With Rollerwall you get the design impact of wallpaper and then it can easily be painted over when the time comes. Oh Scott, how can I ever thank you enough. You are one amazing friend. You make the world a mucho better place. A endlessly textured and vibrant place! Merci.

Antiques on Sunday!

I will have a booth at the Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Fair this Sunday, June 14th. You can meet this little silver table in person!

48 for me!

The best thing about a birthday is cake for breakfast the next day!

I spent the day with the guys digging a hole. In order for our vegetable patch to be plantable we first have to make it gopher proof, which means digging the whole thing down about twenty four inches and creating a giant chicken wire barrier.



Marcel worked hard. Here he is resting by the hole while Papi digs. He picked out organic starter plants at the farmers market -- tomatoes, basil, and rosemary. Bella Italia!



I was sidetracked, daydreaming beyond the hole at my clothesline. I just love whites billowing in the sun:



Then, beyond the clothesline I spied some Nasturtiums (love the leaves) and Agapanthus blossoms:





Well then I saw some pretty golden fungus on a heathered fence, and playful purple butterfly bush blooms, and I never did get back to that hole...