Unusual Girl Studios

I knew my toes would be seen today. I had to try on dresses to get the evaluation and approval of one the three dresses I brought home from Macy's. (It's the wedding, its all about the wedding from here on out.) The hot little black number by Calvin Klien won by a landslide. But to give all the dresses the proper showing I knew the shoes would be off and the contest I have been having with myself to see if I could avoid stripping off the toenail polish from my second-ever pedicure and just let it "grow off" was over. I caved. I searched out the nail polish remover and took off that last 1/4" strip of color from my pale clammy white toes. Only the big ones had any left, its been awhile. But there it was, it hadn't gone anywhere the whole time I had steadfastly ignored it- that weird toe. Actually its a weird toe nail. Right in the middle of my previously perfect nail there this deformity I can only describe as an outward bend. A corner? A crease? A ...

Well, you know the song I'm too sexy for my shirt...what? Who thinks up these things anyways! So, I haven't been posting much. It's not that my life has settled down any, crazy things still happen every day but you know me- if I don't write it down its gone. I've been busy! I've got company coming and a house that hasn't been spring cleaned-in years. I'm overbooked in all areas. A trade show coming up at work, a wedding that I, and Chinamommy (yeah, that's right, I remember co-ercing you into saying yes, probably the real reason you want to poke a fork in my eye!)are doing 33 arrangements for in the same week as the trade show. I may die-I do have high blood pressure you know! And, then there's this learning studio art gallery opening up that I have weaseled my way into. Oh yeah, let's not forget the drafting class I teach is being re-vamped into a technical drawing class and they "need" my input in revising it...yeah, catch me if y...

Do people ever ask for your help in writing letters? I get that once in awhile (Chinamommy)and it always starts with a whiny "Chris, you're so good at this...could you help me...." To which I reply, "Oh thank God, another opportunity to prove my value to the world...Please, let me write three!" I might have some self worth issues...Or not, I like me...just not naked. So my friend at work was in despair. Her genius son who could dissect a molecule in his sleep had only one fault (well, more to her but she expects a lot, just ask her co-worker) he writes like he talks and he talks like a surfer dude. Kyle needed a letter for his application to medical school. A worthy cause. Accepting my mission I was presented with an example letter from a different medical school applicee (not sure that's a word but I can't dissect a molecule either, awake or asleep)and was told what a wonderful reception it had received. Apparently the golden gates swung open and palm f...

This is a new piece that is a gift for a friend of mine, you may know her as Chinamommy on her blog. What is it you ask? Well, let me first give you the background of us. "Us" met at a carpet store where we found we had been tricked by the sign outside declaring "Designer needed" Hah! Needed for torture through stagnation, perhaps! Now, I don't want to say we took that place by storm but really, I could. It was a sneak attack, a few tricks on the manager, a lot of hiding under our desks from real customers, a couple of intercom dedications.... HEY, carpet is boring!!!! Did I mention the pregnancy test in the bathroom and the subsequent announcement to the manager that I was preggers? M. stood up for me though, she claimed to be the father to save me from the shame of being 34 and not understanding the need for regularity in birth control. What? Merely my solid belief that I was not meant to have children and another solid belief that I would not be able to culti...

Are dryers supposed to sound "crunchy" ? Just wondering........

Except for this conversation I had with my hubby. You've had these conversations with your man, right? Please say yes! Setting the scene- we're painting the tall wall. The wall by the stairs that goes up while the stairs go down. It's been needing to be painted for the six years we've lived in the house and finally with new carpet going on the stairs it became a must to rent the scaffolding-finally. So he's up on the scaffolding which makes me nervous. He is the breadwinner right? Or at least the one in the family that can make the cars run and the driveway clear of snow. I need him. But at 6' and 230, he's not what you would call graceful. As I'm watching him try to be so very careful as he reaches far over the safety rail into the corner where the paint changes to another color I'm thinking do I tell him now that we're painting that wall so not to bother being so careful? Do I really want to tell him that and bring up the ensuing "debate...

I just checked in and immediately noticed I had a new follower, Tallulah Belle. I thought-I'm going to send her a note right away to thank her and say hello- right? Well, a screen popped up that said I had to join or sign in and I thought that meant that I had to be a follower of hers to leave a message so I "joined" and another screen popped up and said "Congratulations, you are now a follower of Chronicles of an unusual girl named Chris". YES, that's right, I am now following my own blog. Way to say thanks to Tallulah Belle! I think I need to go to bed and fix this tomorrow. I am way to busy to follow my own blog! Thanks and Welcome, Tallulah Belle!

My friend Kristi from CheekyGreenDesigns.blogspot.com posted this. I think its fabulous and have always been drawn to felt so I thought I'd post it. Felt takes me right back to when I was a kid and my mother was always doing some craft project. It's pretty interesting when I think about the evolution of crafts during her time. Her sources were Ben Franklin, the local five and dime and Franks Nursery and Crafts. Here's what I remember about Ben Franklin- the smell in that old musty building and the really old owner who followed me around because he thought for sure I was going to pocket some 5 cent wood bead with a hole drilled in it. See- even then I was searching for inspiration- pretty difficult with an ornery old guy following you around! But back to Kristi (see- even when its about Kristi-its about me, go figure!) She works in upcycled sweaters and wool. I upcycled wool once when I thought I'd help with the laundry- we always washed in hot and I put a sweater...

Once in a while I get that question- "How do you do that? How do you think of these things?" and I my instinct is to go in to the whole Lake Placid, alligator, mermaid and aqua car story again but can usually stop myself before they haul out that funny jacket where the arms tie in back instead of the belt. How do we artsy people come up with this stuff? Well, I know that I have been this way all my life. Looking out through these eyeballs I never realized other people saw things differently than me. I can tell you I had to develop my imagination- I needed a pretty place to go. As an adult I have learned to not look at things as what they are but to see them as what they could be. Turn them upside down or sideways- lay them down or hang them up- no one or no one thing is only just "one thing" every thing, every person has potential to be something else. I find inspiration as you might call it just about everywhere. I search it out. Today I say a phrase in a book ...

Thought I'd share some pics of my greatest creation ever- something my creativity had very little to do with- my kid! Yeah, yeah, I know there was a man involved but do we have to talk about him? Good job, hubby! Ok, now back to her- she's seven!!!! She sang in the bathroom that morning- "I'm seven, I'm sev-en, I'm seven!" How cute, I thought, as my heart cracked just a little bit. Seven already. Next she'll be asking for the car keys.

If still waters run deep then I am Lake Placid. People have a tendency to make assumptions about me, I think, based on my appearance. Then at some point I surprise them by not being exactly who they categorized me as. I believe the category changes with the different people and is actually an interesting reflection of their own world view. As I've mentioned before I kinda like to hang out on the down low. I don't readily verbalize how fabulous I am as it really doesn't come off that well. Plus, I like having the upper hand of knowing more about the other person than they will ever know about me. Its a control thing. With my husband I like to claim "I am the queen of witholding." Well-not to him- because why would I reveal that important bit of intel, never divulge more info than you have to! More in passing, when I speak of him, usually when I am really pist and I have to call one of my girlfriends to go over in detail just exactly why I am so upset. But how do yo...