what im working on...

what im working on..., originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

new twins :D Lazy weekend, much bumming around.

Today:

Eggplant Parmesean
Mucho Drawing
David Cross
Quilt dreaming-scheming
a million billion laughs and smiles.

are you working on YOUR tiny halloween plushies?

are you working on YOUR tiny halloween plushies?, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

So these two are the first of 3 different peeps I am going to do for Halloween! I am only going to make 5 a piece. and maybe less if I run out of time. They were just a fun idea for me. Obviously the bride's dress still needs to be made.

I have been really good with my sewing groove, but for some reason all I want to do is hand stitch right now. My machine isn't even plugged in which is odd for me. Oh well, I am sure I will get the bug sooner or later to sew away! Plus I have those two projects for clothes that I am trying to get to!

It has been so cold and foggy nights here, its so eerie! :D Good weather for sewing little Halloween lovlies :D

our new space. its so cozy in here! or, hopefully there isn't an earthquake...

our new space. its so cozy in here! or, hopefully there isn't an earthquake..., originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Here is our updated space, from Ryan moving back in(his studio stuff) I am excited to have the bigger work area, I have much more junk and deserve it :D Ryan is trying to scale down, hence the smaller table and less stuff. I am thrilled. I love being able to spread out a little.

The cookies keep getting better each day! You should make some. and roll them in powdered sugar. I have some dulce de leche left over, yum. Hopefully I will figure out something to do with it!

Ryan has been working his little behind off at his market, so I have been getting a lot of sewing done. It is nice! I have a couple of things for Halloween started, and bunches of ideas going on!

I saw the worst movie last night, Sex and the Single girl. the way they portrayed women was just awful. I hated it. I almost turned it off. It is almost comical, but definitely insulting how women were presented a long time ago. I was embarassed. Don't rent it, it will make you mad. Rent the Audrey Hepburn movie "Wait until Dark" instead. A strong blind woman. Awesome...Speaking of which, I should probably check my Netflix for more old movies, some of them just make me so mad!

MMM Alfajores

So, Saturday was a lovely success, my partner in crime is back in my space and creating together has already happened! I made a couple of new toys while he painted. It was the absolute best :D Before I settled down to sew last night, however, I baked my little head off.

Ryan and I went to see Inglorius Basterds. And as anyone who can't afford an $11 movie itself would do, we snuck in snacks from Ryan's work. Ryan bought me these fabulous cookies that I could not get enough of. They were Alfajores, a cookie from Argentina. It was the best thing I have ever had. So, of course I had to try to make it myself at home!



It is a cornstarch cookie with a dulce de leche center.

For the cookie:

1/2 c butter
1 c sugar
1 egg
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c cornstarch
1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 c dulce de leche

1. preheat your oven to 350
2. cream butter and sugar until fluffed.
3. Beat in the egg and egg yolks and then add vanilla
4. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl, add into wet mixture and mix well.
5. roll into small balls and flatten onto a well buttered baking sheet.
6. bake for 12 minutes.
7, sandwich the cookies together with the dulce de leche
8. mmmm eat.

For the Dulce de Leche:

2 14oz cans of sweetened condensed milk
1 tb of vanilla

1. (double boiler: I just use two pans the same size the bottom one with water in it the top one with the ingredients in it :D)
2. heat the water in the bottom of the double boiler to a simmer
3. Add sweetened condensed milk & vanilla in to the top pan and cook for 2 hours, stirring every 5 minutes. I recommend you set a timer!



I think they even taste better the second day. This is a very messy cookie for sure. It is not exactly what I was going for, but they are still good. I think next I am going to try the dulce delche between two shortbread cookies. I think it will be a more buttery, crumbly option, which is what I want :D



Tonight: Sex and the Single girl on DVD and more sewing!

Saturday was such a terrible day for a picnic...

0822091548.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

But we had one anyways. We only lasted about a half hour! It was freezing and overcast and windy as anything. We did bring my little quilt and some snacks. We were trying to get Baby to run and chase us, but that little monster is only interested in cheese and tortilla chips. She doesn't get much grass time in the city, and here she is enjoying it.

The rest of Saturday was equally as interesting. We finally moved Ryan's studio back to the house. So our room is bursting at the seams. It's a good thing that Ryan is so good at arranging things. It almost looks as though we have *more* room than we started with. Amazing. I even have a bigger area for crafting. Yay for me. I also get more storage space for my fabric.

Today is cloudy again, I am not sure what is on the agenda, maybe making stuff! :D I would like to go to the fabric store!

Mmm

Mmm, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Sometimes you just need some chocolate!

projects for this weekend?

projects for this weekend?, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

So these are the two patterns I have for upcoming projects. The skirt I have all of the supplies for and that jacket pattern, I am going to have to go out and get some stuff. I am thinking dark blue fleece. I think it will make a cute cozy little project. I guess we shall see :D

I am excited, because I was wrong, Ryan gets Saturday *and* Sunday off this weekend! A little bit of time together that is much needed! We will probably go to the beach. That seems to be where we migrate when we get some free time together.

Maybe we will get his painting supplies this weekend! Then we can work on projects together again! That sounds lovely, like my idea of the perfect time.

Someday, I am going to buy a better camera.

Hella cute!, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

and a new computer.
and our own apartment(or if we are buying, maybe a house with a yard)
and some new jeans
and a tv

oh geez there I go getting all materialistic. That is no good. I did get these shoes from our trip to Ohio(thanks jamie :D) care of Ryan's momma... They are my favorite thing right now and I don't even care if they don't match my outfit. Well that isn't all the way true, but I have worn them a lot, and carefully combed through my wardrobe to see what goes with green :D

This week has been relatively uneventful, which can be good or bad. I am missing Ryan a little, he has been working every day for 7 days in a row so far.

This weekend he works all weekend too. I guess I will have to sooth myself with another trip to the craft store, and maybe I will get that new skirt finished since I have all of the materials. I also could get some fleece and work on my new little jacket that I have a pattern for. And there is a bunch of bears and dollies that need to be made! There are a few shows coming up I want to apply for! Hopefully I will get in!!

i need to figure out how 2 draw the bottom of a horse

i need to figure out how 2 draw the bottom of a horse, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

ahhh weekend, I am so glad you are here!

I have been drawing up a storm lately, although it does seem that I am drawing mostly the same thing over and over and over again. Right now it has been horse heads. I am at a loss so far with the bottom, so I will go for the part I enjoy :D

This is going to be a solitary weekend, Ryan has to work, so I have to keep myself entertained for 2 whole days all on my own!

Now, you know I am going to shop(I told you I need socks!) and sleep, and sew. Those are definitely my favorite S's. I think I will watch a bunch of hulu movies and shows and relaaaaaax.

Hello There

cutesy glasses lady, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Not too much going on today.

* Making mental plans for a trip to Portland at Christmastime
* Thinking about applying to Bazaar Bizarre in SF for Xmas
* Thinking about making Eggplant Parm for dinner tomorrow
* Looking at my dog sleeping on my messenger bag
* Making plans to bake this weekend for fun(ryan's working 2 days)
* Wanting to go to Target, I need socks!
* I need to get polyfil!
* I also need a new book(any suggestions?)
* Being super glad that tomorrow is Friday! I need this weekend.

What have you been up to?

oy

cutesy glasses lady, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

I had a super boring work day today. So unfulfilling sometimes. That is why the prospect of school is so enchanting I guess :D

Ryan and I have been watching stuff on hulu lately. For me its been way too many episodes of Intervention while sewing tiny toys. But last night we even watched a bunch of SNL skits and it was very entertaining. I like being able to watch *something* sometimes, especially when I sew cause I love the background noise, but I do not enjoy sitting on a couch watching TV all of the time. In oakland it was always the Food Network. :D

I have been thinking that it is about time for me to start working on a quilt for myself. My old one is very much loved and really shabby and about 7 or 8 years old. I am thinking this time I go for binding even! Woo Hoo. Walking on the wild side. I do want it to be with good fabric, so I need to save my pennies and go to Hart and pick out some cutesy Heather Ross fabric I think. That lovely Unicorn print is calling to me. I am also thinking about Hedi Kenney's stacking doll fabric. That makes me smile too. Oooh, there is always the prospect of making my own too. But for that I need to borrow a scanner. Ours is dead.

I am getting carried away. There always a few projects on my mind at all times. I am sure you are like this too. I also have 2 patterns for stuff I need to make, one is a fleece jacket that is *super* cute. I know you don't believe me, but just wait. And also I have a super cute skirt pattern that is gonna look *real* special with tights and a cardy. I wish I had more pennies for fabric that is for sure! I think I am going to need to start a 365 on flickr for crafting.

I'd love to know what is on your project list for the future!

Feeling better

cutesy glasses lady, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

ok, I made some fudge, and looked up butternut squash recipes for dinner. I am feeling better. I *have* been on the internet most of the rest of the day though, and that is hardly productive.

Well, I have been a little productive. I've been looking up more nursing schools all over the country. NYU today. haha. They do have a 15 month program too, cause I already have a degree and all. I would have to take some crazy science classes before I apply though I think.

Its all so exciting.

I think I am going to get offline(or at least move over to a movie site to watch while I sew a little...) It will do me good.

I finished up a few girls with glasses I have been working on since before I left for my vacation. They came out kinda cute, if I do say so myself. haha.

I am looking forward to going to work tomorrow to see if my "Instant Flowers" have sprouted!

Lazy Sunday

my pup best friend :D , originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Today is a lazy day, hanging out with my sleepy puppy. :D

Ryan is out skating all day with a bunch of young skaters with a lot of energy and here I am alone... It is ok though, I am good at entertaining myself. I am thinking about making fudge. and sewing a little. or maybe I will just take a nap.

I am missing my family quite a bit today. It sucks to be so far away. I wish I could afford to fly home once a month. That would make me happy. Just something to think about for the future. I need to go somewhere that will afford me the luxury of being able to go home about once a month.

Sigh.

Giant and Stitching

monster in progress, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Trying to ease myself back into sewing, I sat with a monster hand sewing project on Thursday and watched the lovely James Dean flick, GIANT. I must say, he was one handsome man! :D But geez that movie was loooong.

I have been thinking a lot(especially lately) about what I want to do with my life. All signs have been kind of pointing towards going back to school. I am really interested in becoming a nurse, and would like to go back to school to pursue it. I am a little bummed, however, because it looks like the next time I can sign up for classes in California in my area is the Fall of 2010, so a whole year away. hmm. I am not sure if Ryan and I want to stay a year and then a whole degree's worth of time here. We are kind of entertaining our options right now. Is there another destination in our future? I don't know, but I am doing a lot of soul searching and researching.

Life is a funny thing. Its all one day at a time and slips by you like crazy fast.

spoiled :D

0807091047.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Remember when I said I was spoiled on my vacation? Well these are 2 of my prizes! A doodle diary, which I am using at work when I have to make all of the lovely calls I make all the livelong day, and Cup of Flowers, so I can brighten my day with lovely flowers that I grew myself!

drawing up a storm

0806091557.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

Slow day at work! That always happens when you get back from vacation I think. Well the good thing is that I felt like drawing and so far for tonight I feel like sewing! Our trip was amazing and much needed and we were spoiled by everyone. I am now in the process of starting my Christmas crafting list and I am excited this year for the prospects! But also for now, back to regular life, with a few new prospects for me, possibly some schooling in my future! Time to spice things up!