Friday, December 21, 2007

Sara and Santa!



A super cute pic. The only thing that was wrong is Sara wouldn't look at the camera! There were to many moving things to look at around Santa. So this is the best we could get.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Sara in the family Williams gown



This turned out to be a cute pic. Eric's mom wanted a picture of Sara in the family christening gown and this is the pic I chose to fix up and look professional. We put her in the wooden cradle my dad fixed up.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Here is the other. Girls with meat on their heads!

My responce to my husbands call, Human Tetris!

So my hubby put down a challenge for the best Japanese game show clip. Here is my entry into the funny.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Don't buy a Polaroid 40 inch LCD HD TV



DO NOT BUY THIS TV! My husband and I bought the TV you see above a Polaroid 40" LCD HD flat screen TV from Circit City. We bought this TV on black Friday for a very good price. I was really excited about it. We finally got the wall mount up, all the wires in the right place, got a new entertaiment stand to go under the TV, and watch the wonder of big screen viewing. In 12 hours, YES 12HOURS, later the TV died. No picture or sound. As we looked up the TV under Circit City website and read the reviews, we came to understand we were not the only people this happened to. Apperantlly this TV is a piece of CRAP! You have to wait 4 to6 weeks for a part from Polaroid. If this is a common problem then why haven't they recalled this TV! So, Eric and I will be buying a new TV under a different name brand. Since we are still under the 30 days for return we plan on getting our money back! If you want to avoid this headach don't buy a Polaroid! Stick to Camara's Polaroid!

Monday, December 10, 2007

My Civil War Ball Gown



This is the Civil War Ball gown I made for myself a few years back for the Civil War encampment weekend in Zoar, Ohio. I love the dress I made but I have worn it for the past 2 civil war events now and it is time for a new one. I would like to make a sheer one but I am not sure if I want to go through the all the work that it takes to make one. Plus I haven't found a good pattern I like yet. At least I have 2 years to think about it. LOL

The dress is made from a plaid taffeta. I am wearing a corset underneath the bodice and a hoop skirt with a petticoat under the skirt. The bodice is lined and has boning in the seams. There is pipping around the arm sycs and all the seams. The puffed sleeves have a sleeve jockey with black beading hanging from it. Across the bodice I have a sash with rosettes at the top and bottom. In the center is a button and tassels. The skirt is a 3 tiered flounced skirt with set in waist band. Along the bottom of the tiers I have black ribbon for accent.

cute pic of Sara for the month!

Apple cheesecake


For everyone who had some apple cheesecake at the party here is the recipe.
(please keep in mind it will not look like the one above. It will taste better and look almost like the one above. LOL)

The easy way for busy people on the go:
Pillsbury Pie Crusts 9 inch ( comes in a 2 pack)
9 inch pie pan
1 can of Comstock apple pie filling ( you can create your own filling if you prefer)
Apple crumb topping

For the cheesecake part:
2lbs. Philly cream cheese. (2 packages)
3/4 cup sugar
1cup sour cream (small container of sour cream)
2large eggs
1tsp. vanilla
2tsp. flour

Cake: In large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and sugar. Beat until thoroughly mixed. Beat in sour cream. Stir in eggs, slightly beaten, vanilla and flour, only until mixed. When thoroughly mixed pour into pan with pie crust.

Prepare the apple crumb topping as directed on the package.

Bake cheese cake at 400 degrees for the first 10-15 minutes. Turn oven down to 300 degrees and add the apple pie filling on top. Try to spread it out evenly. Add the apple crumb topping across the apples. Place back in the oven for 45 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the oven with the door propped slightly open for 3 hours. Refrigerate.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Welcome to Christmas



Thanksgiving is now over and NOW we can start to celebrate Christmas. Pull out the lights and tree with ribbons and bows. Most of all it is time to deal with bad Holiday drivers, rude people trying to get a good deal on a present and yelling at the cashier when it doesn't ring up right, and general douchbaggery. I personally love the Christmas time of the year but I can do without the ill will of most people. Perhaps I like to see acts of kindness for no reason. Perhaps it is what the true idea behind the season is all about. I don't know, but I would like to think that people are still kind for no reason then just be kind. I don't think people are kind anymore. There is a lack of respect for others in general. I hope that whoever reads this post thinks about doing a kind act at least once this season for no personal gain. Give food to a food bank, donate to Coats for kids, or even it is to give a person your parking spot at a store. What ever you do I hope this post has given you a reason to do it. If you do happen to have an act of kindness or you have someone else give you an act of kindness post it here. I would love to hear it. Re-new my faith in this Holiday. If you are one of those who says to hell with other people I have a perfect song for you to listen to.


Friday, November 16, 2007

What happened to Thanksgiving!?


What happened to Thanksgiving? In recent years it seems like Thanksgiving is passed by for instant Christmas. Poor Thanksgiving just gets looked at as a day to eat some turkey and then shop for Christmas. The stores are filled with Christmas stuff already, people have already put up their Christmas decorations, and the thanksgiving decorations have already been marked down to 50% in the stores if you can find them at all. So What happened? Do we not care about Thanksgiving anymore? Should we just forget about this holiday completely?

I Say NO! Fight to keep Thanksgiving alive! A turkey deserves to be cooked and eaten! We need to celebrate the turkey, stuffing, and green bean casserole! Most of all we need to come together as a family and remember we all love each other enough to bring food to eat and be thankful for what we have. To give to others who go without and to give without the thought of what is it going to get me. I think Thanksgiving needs to get it's props again. Not just a forgettable holiday anymore. So lets hear it for Thanksgiving! Be thankful for what we all have in our lives!

The Medusa is Victorious!


The Medusa is Victorious! Somewhat. My Hench Woman won the game in the end but, I beat Craig! HUHUH! I got my last phase in Phase 10 before Craig so the Medusa is the Victor! Once again the Medusa beats the Craig. I say bring on the next challenge.

Monday, November 5, 2007

The Medusa is coming!


This weekend coming up I will have the pleasure of kicking my friends butts in a game of Phase 10. I guess I should explain myself before I go on. A while back in time my ever so loving husband branded me with the name Medusa. You see, every time we get together with my BFF and Andy to play cards we play Phase 10. My husband seems to think I am a super competitive person when it comes to games. I guess I am because of being an only child. Playing games was a fun time growing up and was only done when the grown-ups were done playing or during holidays. So yea I guess I am a bit competitive. My husband says I have an MO when I play. I say,"Oh woe's is me. I am so behind and will never win. I have a crappy hand." Then I turn around and crush everyone at the table. So he started to call me the Medusa. Even going as far as to imitate the Medusa one night making fun of me. So instead of getting mad or upset about it I have deiced to embrace the title.
So this weekend coming up will be the big test. Will the Medusa win out on the night. It is going to be a big night of card playing. Not only will it be the Medusa and her husband with the BFF and Andy but, it will be Craig and Mandi playing as well. Craig has already told me he will crush the Medusa with the weight of 10,000 waterfalls. Little does he know that waterfalls mean nothing to the Medusa. Only pain and crying from her opponents. Together with her HenchWoman, Craig will be crushed like 10,000 grapes being pressed and stomped on by fat Italian women to make wine. He shall be nothing but a husk like the grapes left over from wine making.
May the Medusa Turn him to stone!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

A sad day for a lovely gown







Its a sad day for this costumer. I recently got an IM from a customer of mine who bought many things over the past 2 years. She told me that the dress above the kirtle with hells gate gown, was the only thing to survive a fire she had in her home. Unfortunately, the dress below, the Tudor gown, was lost to the fire. The dress below took many hours to make since I put the pearls on by hand one by one. Very sad. So here is a moment of silence for the dress that was lost.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Get your Jedi Princess on!



Here is my little Jedi Princess! I didn't make the costume but... she still looks great! Next year I will make her costume and it will be awesome! I just had to dress her like Princess Leia.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007



This is a customer order I have done for a teacher. The plan for her class is to show the German flag as a part of heritage days at her school. I thought what a cool idea! So what do you think? Does it capture the idea of the German flag?

Poll Results!

It seems June has the most votes! Here's to June!


And it starts already! I can't seem to keep the hands of the boys off my daughter. Is this a sign of things to come? I don't know. I do however know that not only do I have photo evidence of Tobey feeling up my daughter but he is starring at Sara's chest. Ahhh, get use to that little girl. If she is anything like her mom she will have a chest that will command attention. I do know however that one whole chicken has now come off the dowry if she marries Tobey. LOL! Photo doesn't lie!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Picture says a thousand words



I really don't need to say anything else!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Way to busy!!!!


I know it is good to busy but WOW I am super busy this October. I am hoping to get everything done. Then again it is hard when things seem to be going wrong at every turn. Between family issues, teaching issues, and finding time to sew, I hardly have time to spend time with Sara. I thank god I have my husband. I can't seem to tell him enough how much I love and appreciate him. Well, I guess I just have. :-)

Nothing but Love Eric, Nothing but Love. Happy Sweetest Day!

a new word

So I was playing Bingo on POGO and had a really bad card. Nothing seemed to be working out. So I posted on the message that my cards were "craptastic". One of the ladies in the room laughed and loved the words and thanked me for a great word. I of course told her to use it when ever in good health. It is always a good feeling to bring a smile to a complete stranger. :-)

Monday, October 15, 2007

I want this shirt! Ghost Hunters





This is a super cool shirt and I love it. First off I love the show Ghost Hunters and this is from their website. Second, I wish they could show all the stuff they can't show on the show. Isn't that what we all watch for?!?!? Ok SciFi station, let them show the evidence we want to see. Who cares if it is scary. We want proof! That is why we watch. That is the reason behind the show, getting proof and debunking the crap. Now don't get me wrong they have showed some cool stuff. The chair moving in the lighthouse, the lighthouse with the shadow people, images of black figures, the figure in the locker, and voices on EVP. ( If you don't know EVP just watch the show. They explain it all. Not only that but it has become a drinking game. Every time it is explained in the show take a drink. ) These things just are not enough. Not only that but I would love for them to do a live show at Waverly Sanitarium. I think that would be a kick ass night! SHOW MORE! Here is a link to their web pages.
Click Here!!!
Worth checking out plus the show. Keep it up boys and make SciFi show more!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

New Poll Up Now!!!

So what is your Favorite Month of the YEAR! Vote now!

Renaisssance Faire 2007

I vend at one Renaissance Faire a year in Medina, Ohio. I loved the two day faire. It was super fun. Here are a few pictures of the booth. Even though it rained the second day we still had a good time and good sales. Enjoy!

This is my BFF "Trixie Ray" in all her glory. Talk about lookin' good girl!



This is the booth. Does it say, "Come in and buy something!"

My favorite picture of Sara yet

No words can say just how cute this picture of Sara is. Thanks Andy for this one.

Halloween is always a busy time of the year for me. Ok, October is the busiest time of the year for me. Between making costumes, teaching school, and finding time to spend time with family and friends it seems impossible to get anything done. On top of that it is hard when you get a cold and you feel light headed every time you move. LOL Here is hoping I can get everything done. Even thought October is busy it is still one of my favorite months of the year. The leaves are turning and it is starting to cold. It isn't to cold to sit around a fire and not to hot that you roast with sweat rolling down your face. It is time for pumpkins and apple cider not to mention loads of candy from trick or treating. :-)

Friday, October 5, 2007

The most recent Irish Overdress I sold

This is an Irish Over dress I recently sold on Ebay. A lovely Stewart plaid / tartan. I love to make these. I have one that I wear when I do vendor work. I really need to make one for myself again. The one I have fit pre-baby and I look a little like a stuffed sausage. LOL I know the dress is suppose to be tight and hold the "girls" in and up but the last time I worn the dress I felt like the "girls" were being shoved into my throat. Talk about cleavage! LOL I guess the good thing about it was Eric didn't complain. LOL

Thursday, October 4, 2007

I love this one

This is my dress. I made this a few years ago and amazingly enough I can still fit into it after the baby as come. This picture was from when I was still going through some of the sewing process. I don't have the jewels on, I don't have my partalet on, and I don't think I even have make-up on. LOL Not only that but you can see the straps from the corset I am wearing! Hopefully I can get some better pictures wearing it. I love this dress!

Welcome to my random thoughts and outfits

Hello and welcome one an all to Ann's random thoughts and outfits of the day. After much prodding and poking from my hubby I have created a blog. I hope I can keep up with it since I have so much to do in a day. Between sewing, creating, sleeping, taking care of the baby, working as a teacher, cleaning the house (sometimes), loving my husband, reading email, taking orders, answering questions about my garb, sleeping....
I thought this would be a great place to show off some of my work I have done and some recent thoughts of the day. After all it can't all be work and no play. LOL I hope you enjoy the blog and look forward to hearing your comments!

Jennifer
aka the multi tasker