American Idol

Okay -- here's my take on last night's American Idol.

Last year, the Elton John night was actually painful to watch. Apparently, Elton John writes this music FOR HIMSELF....And it just doesn't work for other singers.

So -- why are we doing it again this year? When Naima performed "I'm Still Standing" with a Reggae twist -- I called my friend Val and said, "No, she's not". (standing, that is) Really. It was awful. Her rendition of that song was so bad, I think Elton John will be filing a law suit...

The whole night was sort of a miss for me. But I did enjoy Paul's elaborately embroidered suit. It's like going back in time -- he's Porter Wagner -- looking or his Dolly...

I thought James Durban was amazing...and I thought having the piano start on fire was a nice touch.

I also thought Casey proved himself WORTHY of last week's judge's save. But really -- LOSE THE BEARD. It makes you look like a middle-aged rabbi. For crying out loud -- you are 20 years old!! Why do you insist on the old-man masquerade?? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE shave that beard and lose the Olde Spice, Casey...

At the end of two hours -- I think Niama and Thia are going home. but, Stephano also tried to get his homeward bound ticket punched. I used to be a fan -- but last night, I could not understand a word he sang...and that is NEVER a good sign...

The person I really want to vote off the island is Randy Jackson. The last song of the night was Haley singing "Bennie and the Jets" -- and Randy called it "the best performance of the night".

Really, Randy? Better than Pia? Better than James? Jacob? Casey?

What could be clouding your judgment, dawg?? Oh...that's right....I forgot...YOU DON'T HAVE ANY. Randy has never made a single notable comment in all the years he's been on American Idol. Most of the time, I'm convinced he isn't even listening to the singing because he's too busy thinking about how he can do more name dropping...telling us about a record he produced with Mariah or Whitney 20 years ago...

As per usual, Randy brings NOTHING to the show. Maybe it's time for him to focus on his MTV Dance Crew show.

WHAT NUMBER CAN I CALL???

Get Well Linda!

What we had planned was our usual Tuesday breakfast club...EXCEPT that cousin Linda was in the hospital!! Being focused (yet flexible) -- we simply moved our breakfast club to the hospital cafeteria...

Sandy, me, cousin Linda and sister Ronda...(we are each holding one of Aunt Rozella's silver forks -- that'll be a future post...)

Here I am, QUITE enjoying a piece of chocolate birthday cake with peanut butter icing...(also a future post)...

But it's THIS woman I wanted to tell you about. She came into the room and introduced herself as a 'befriender". The four of us looked at her when she said that, and she quickly followed with, "well, maybe I'm not really needed here..." And we all laughed. As it turns out, she has recently taken up quilting. Sandy filled her in on all the best local quilt shops...then we compared notes about sewing machines and those with the best self-threading capabilities...(Ronda loves her Baby Lock)...

As she was most interested in finding a quilt shop that sells kits, we recommended Susan's Quilt Loft in Fulton, Illinois.

Are you getting the irony here? SHE volunteered to be a "befriender" at this hospital...but then, we ended up befriending HER -- and, the truth is -- I think she needed us more than we needed her...

The best news is that Linda only spent one night in the hospital and she's home now.

Frilly Dino shirts

During my recent thrifting adventures -- I was on the prowl for "dinosaur shirts". My only rule is that I won't pay more than $1. Of course, they are ALL LITTLE BOY shirts. so my mission is to "girly them up". Remember??


How much fun is this?? For this shirt, I added a zebra print cuff on the sleeves and a little bit of a gathered lower edge...you'll see the orange band on a later shirt pic...

For this green shirt -- I added a zebra ruffle around the neck, and a band at the lower hem...

One of my favs -- here, I cut off the existing neck ribbing and serged on a new little leopard mock turtleneck. Then, I sewed a new bottom -- adding the orange that I cut off from the first shirt...and, of course, a leopard band as well to bring it together.

Shocking -- MORE ZEBRA PRINT....you know how it tones everything down!!


Although it doesn't look like it in this pic -- the vertical zebra is actually a "ruffle". I love it!

AND I'm hoping for some pictures from Emily with Lillian and her friends wearing their new girly-dino-shirts!!

In the meantime, my NEW mission is to do some reverse-dino-shirts. This time, I bought little girl shirts -- which already have the ruffles and trims. THEN, I'll cut up some dino shirts (which are the wrong size) -- and just applique or iron the dinosaurs on the front...

Yes, I know. It has become an obsession...

Good Morning, Jackie!!

My cousin Jackie lives in Oklahoma City. The rest of her family lives here in Iowa -- and we all miss her. She & I have the wonderful habit of "emailing" each other on Sunday. For me, it's kind of a journal. When I write to Jackie about the "best" thing -- or the "worst" thing in my week -- I usually put things into perspective...

Jackie's sister, Linda, is in my breakfast club -- and lives across the street from their mother, my Aunt Ada.

This morning -- this blog is my Sunday morning letter to Jackie...

Dear Jackie,

Friday, Linda & I went over to your Mom's house for a cup of coffee. As you know -- your Mom NEVER STOPS decorating her house...here's a picture of her newest little vingette -- she loves the antique picture frame (from the Goodwill store) -- and we all wondered about the story of the beautiful girl...



I got a tour of the bathroom remodel...

And the embroidered piece she has hanging there was PERFECT...she sent for it out of a catalog. Can you read the words?

Me, neither...bummer. Sorry for the bad picture. I guess I'll have to go BACK to your Mom's house and write them down, eh?

Your Mom served us coffee cake. Wow. this must have been what life was like back in 1963. Matching cups, hand painted luncheon plates...A regular coffee clatch...And, of course, we all talked about you...HEY -- what kind of coffee clatch would it be without gossip??

Here's a picture of your Mom's new bathroom floor. Karl did a great job. And your Mom put the mopboard in all by herself..(I'm sure you are not one bit surprised).

At one point, your Mom was pointing her finger, trying to make a point...and when I asked her to do it again....and HOLD THE POSE...so that I could take a picture of her doing it...well, she started to laugh so hard I never could get that shot. And I'm telling you -- the pointing just isn't as effective without the stern look.



So -- there's the photographic report of "a day in the life."

I'm taking my "after Expo break" -- and next week, Linda and I are going to start A BIG ART PROJECT AT MY HOUSE. The details are yet to be announced...

We all miss you, kiddo. And are looking forward to your next visit!

Love,
Rita

Casey and American Idol

Casey got the LOWEST NUMBER OF VOTES on American Idol this week?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

I am loving this season of American Idol. I can't believe I'm saying this -- but I don't even miss Simon! Really...Stephen Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are both fun to watch. And what I like about them the most is that they don't even TRY to be Simon. This week, Stephen jumped up on the stage to give Jacob a hug. Jennifer sings along, claps and sways with the music. They are supportive and insightful.

These young people are sooo talented. Jacob, James, Pia, Casey, Stephano, Scotty...(yes, the boys are better than the girls)...

Each week, I can't WAIT to tune in and see what they'll sing. Idol has gone BACK to being "can't miss tv" for me. It's every bit as good as IT USED TO BE. Which is such a rare thing for a show.

Motown was the theme. MY FAVORITE!! If you are an Idol fan -- you know what I mean.(hey -- if you're not an Idol fan -- you quit reading long ago.) Casey Abrams kicked it off with "Heard it through the grapevine" and HE NAILED IT...

The next night, during the results show, after 30 million people voted -- I expected three girls to be in the bottom...and most likely, Haley will go home.

So -- fast forward to CASEY BEING VOTED OFF THE SHOW!!

Picture me, in my living room, screaming, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...."

Casey sets up to "sing for his life"

The judges have "one save" they can use to keep Casey on the show. (which means two contestants will go home next week)...

Casey starts to sing...my heart is breaking...this is a lot to ask from the kid..

Ryan Seacrest comes on the stage and stops Casey in the middle of his song...

Then, Randy announces that they are going to use the save to keep Casey on the show.

I start to breath again.

I'm telling you -- this is CAN'T MISS TV...

My friend Marion, who has been watching Idol from Florida (remember -- she's from Canada) -- was stunned, too. 30 million people voted for American idol this week...and THIS IS THE END RESULT??

Yes, Marion, this is how we do it in America....Casey got the lowest number of votes.

Maybe this result goes a long way to explaining some of the trouble we're having of late...

Gail's Original ART

I don't know if I ever met anybody who enjoys doing HOME DEC more than my friend Gail. Remember...Mary and I stayed at her Tacoma condo during Sew Expo. There were so many interesting "art installations" -- I could not resist taking some pictures. This is my all-time-favorite piece of original art....the frame alone is very dimensional -- with hand-painting. Can you see the dress made out of buttons? And read the hand-embroidered words?


In the kitchen, some small paintings...the off-kilter mats make all the difference...

This GREAT PICTURE is my black button dress -- and its reflection -- in the bathroom mirror.


And THIS IS FAB. One of Gail's friends is a ceramist. It LOOKS like fabric -- but when you touch it, you realize it's china. Gail hung it in a corner, from a hook -- then put the frame across the corner...

It's SO 3-D dimensional...FABULOUS...

And I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the antique-silver-hand-mirror-made-into-a-clock that Gail artfully hung on the wall -- inside an empty picture frame.

It was a pleasure to be surrounded by your beautiful art, Gail. You obviously LOVE putting a home together -- and you have a wonderful eye. And in your next life, you should own an art gallery. I WOULD COME to all your events!!

Long Overdue Bert Saturday!

Since Christmas, my life has been so overwhelmed by SEW EXPO -- that I have rarely been able to kick around with my friend Bert. We have BOTH missed our Saturdays...

So it was a joyful thing when we recently set off on a Saturday morning Muscatine, Iowa for -- our favorite thing -- AN AUCTION!!



I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this butter yellow sofa. But if I buy the darn thing -- it would mean a week of work to make room for it in my house. But it's such a good match with my new blinds...I do give it some serious thought...


One of the big mysteries was this dress form. Wha?? It's made of actual FOAM...and the lose-fitting covering seems like it's 'stuffable" -- so it would equate my own actual body. Right? (well -- it would require a LOT OF STUFFING -- but is that the concept?)



This picture was an original. Pen and ink. And -- in so many ways -- I felt like it could have been a self-portrait...it went for $12.50. Nope, I didn't buy it...



You NEVER KNOW what you're going to find at an auction. Here -- in the back of Bert's Subaru -- you can see her NEW CHANDELIER...



The secret is to go to an auction with an open mind. And you cannot be in a hurry. On this day, they had lots of homemade pie...which helped to pass the time. Also, set a bidding "limit" for every item. It's easy to get caught up in thinking, "I've waited all this time -- I'M GOING TO GET IT NO MATTER WHAT..!"

It's pretty easy to pay more than it's worth...

Hey -- I SHOULD WRITE THAT AUCTION BOOK, EH??

Designs in Machine Embroidery Interview

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN...

I used to write the last page column for Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine. And I love it when I get an email or have a conversation with somebody who remembers those columns. Denise Holquin, the managing editor of the magazine -- came to the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup -- and we did this video interview.

YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE TECHNOLOGY!! Please note that we were sitting right in front of the Fisher Scones booth...yummo...

My only regret is that I did not turn around so Eileen's readers could see the BACK OF MY FABULOUS JACKET (embroidered with the show logo by my talented sister, Deborah)...

MYSTERY DATE

OH MY GOD...I love my life. Really. Last Friday night, I called my cousin Kim and said, "I'm picking you up at 6:30 --it's a surprise destination."

Without any questions, she was ready to go when I pulled into her lane. She had NO IDEA where we were headed. I drove us to the new Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. The parking lot was full. 1300 seats had been sold --

It was a concert. A group from 2009 America's Got Talent. AND THEY SHOULD'VE WON...

HERE'S A VIDEO...



Do you recognize them? It's the Texas Tenors!! During the concert, Kim and I kept looking at one another, saying, 'THEY ARE AMAZING"...When it was over, I went out to get my camera from the car. KIM stayed in line to buy our CD's...which she had AUTOGRAPHED by all three of these amazing singers.

Sadly -- these are my best pictures...see the cowboy hat?

I'm getting closer -- see two cowboy hats??

yeah...my pictures suck...



Because they were THRONGED BY THEIR FANS. Truly. I couldn't even get close.

Here's what I loved about these guys. Well, for one thing -- THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE SINGING VOICES. Oh my. I've never heard anybody better -- in person, on television, or on a Broadway stage. They were amazing...

And -- I loved how they said, "flash photography is not only allowed -- IT'S ENCOURAGED." TAKE ALL THE PICTURES YOU WANT -- do a video -- post it on your Facebook page -- TELL THE WORLD...



If only I had an I-phone!! My Blackberry takes sucky pictures and videos...so it was a wasted effort.

But I AM TELLING YOU THIS -- if you ever get the chance to see the Texas Tenors in concert -- JUST DO IT.

You can thank me later.

Lillian's Dinosaur Stage

I was only home from Expo for a few days when we went up to Wisconsin for Lilly's 2nd birthday party. This is the BEST picture I have of us with Lillian. Doesn't it look like she's screaming, "LEAVE ME ALONE!!"


In the age of two, Lillian is fascinated with all-things-dinosaur...


After her bath, she can hardly wait to put on her FAVORITE pajamas...

Emily found a place online where, for $10 -- you can order a blow-up dinosaur! (Oriental Trading Company)...You can see that Sophie is keeping a careful eye on this large, yet quiet, intruder...



Aunt Hannah (Emily's sister) -- made a special DINOSAUR cake for the party.



Oh oh. The guests are arriving...it looks like Lilly may NOT want to share the bubbles...bummer...

I wonder how many of those bottles she can carry at one time??

Pillowcase Patrol Slide Show

SEATAC Office

On the flight home, I was wearing a long sleeve turtleneck, jeans, denim vest, hooded sweater, black boiled wool jacket AND a black rain coat.

Because, of course -- I CAN ONLY AFFORD TO CHECK ONE BAG!! You will note -- in this picture, I am stuffing in my brand new zebra striped ironing board cover, trimmed with red t-shirt fringe (thanks Chris & Judy!!). This bag officially weighs 49.5 pounds...

Because I dropped Mary off at 5:00 AM -- I had several hours to spend. so, I decided to set up a temporary office...it looks like I travel with an entire staff. A green sweater, black boiled wool jacket, black rain coat...I felt like I had multiple personalities...

Me & the Hey Rita tote -- some great Seattle coffee -- my laptop...



AND THAT FABULOUS SEATAC FREE WIFI...!!!


Thanks, Bill Gates!! One more reason to love Seattle...

Our Home Away from Home

This year -- instead of staying in a hotel -- Mary and I stayed in Gail Brown's condo in old Tacoma during the show. This is the view from the front window of Gail's condo...which we mostly did not see (because we left before daylight and got home after dark)...
This is the beautiful, well equipped kitchen we did not cook in...


This is the living room we never got to sit in...you can see the flat screen TV we never got to watch...
But the one thing we did EVERY DAY was have a cup of coffee in the morning before we left for the show. I was usually still in my nightgown...

But, Mary, of course -- is all dressed AND READY TO GO...(a morning perky girl, that one)


Because the only rooms we got full use of were the bedrooms -- but -- mine was such a mess, I wisely decided NOT to take a picture...lol...

But THIS IS THE THING WE LOVED THE MOST...Gail's Keurig coffee maker!! OMG. It was awesome....and she had a huge variety of coffees, teas, hot chocolates, hot cider...WHO KNEW??

Gail thought of everything. She had a laptop and printer all hooked up for us, along with a sewing machine, ironing board, and serger, complete with sewing notions and thread. The refrigerator was stocked -- there were fresh flowers, fresh fruit, a Starbucks gift card on the counter and even a BAG OF POTATO CHIPS in the pantry!

But, you already know that we never turned on the computer, much less the sewing machine or serger. We didn't plug in the iron and never had the time to walk half a block to the Starbucks.

We did, however, eat the entire bag of potato chips...(okay, mostly -- that was ME)...

Gail is definitely the hostess with the mostest. Staying in her condo was SO MUCH MORE FUN than staying in a hotel. In a future post, I'm going to write all about the unusual ART installations. Really cool...

And Mary and I are still trying to figure out how we can thank Gail for her hospitality.

Don' worry...we'll think of something!!

Set Up Day at Sew Expo

This is what the vendor floor looks like on Wednesday -- the day before the show officially opens...

There are trucks parked at every door -- with TONS OF MERCHANDISE being loaded into the booths...it was raining off and on...

The Clover Crew came -- with CRATES BIG AS A HOUSE...full of treasure for "Clover Hall"...I'll post some in-progress shots on the official show blog. They came this year, ready to impress! AND THEY DID...

The Quality Sewing booth is starting to shape up...imagine opening up ALL THOSE SEWING MACHINES....hooking up the electricity, setting up all the cabinetry...


Pacific Fabrics was starting to stock their shelves...and I KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA BUY!!
Oh, yeah -- I know I say this all the time -- but it really does TAKE A VILLAGE. Hundreds of people come from all over the country to put this show together. It's four days of non-stop, action-packed, sewing and embroidery treasure hunt. It takes a lot of hard work to make it look like nothing but FUN...

THANK YOU, VENDORS...!! YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST...