You Have Two More Nights - Go!

"Rama, Hanuman, Sita, Rain" by Nina Paley

Jason and I saw Sita Sings The Blues tonight and now I can't get it out of my head. This whole project sprang from the broken heart of one woman, Nina Paley and it is enchanting. You probably won't be seeing this at a metroplex near you due to some copywrite struggles (check out the website for the full scoop), although other outlets are available (it will be on some PBS stations in March) but this is a chance to see it on the big screen. Sadly, we were only two of less than ten people attending tonight, which it too bad because it's one of the most imaginative things I've seen in a long time. It's simply beautiful.

You can catch it as part of the Webster University Film Series: Feb 13, 14 at 9pm and Feb 15 at 7pm at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium.

Yearning To Go Anywhere

I've been making all sorts of travel arrangements lately, unfortunately, none of them are for me. Jason is off to Chicago next weekend for the Central APA and then to New York the following weekend, for the BIG sub-conference which is held in the middle of the Economists doing their thing. He's taking the train to Chicago and staying in nicer hotels cheaply thanks to last minute trips. While I know he won't be doing all sorts of touristy wonderful things (instead he'll be sitting inside hotel meeting rooms talking to others of his ilk), and it's north and therefore probably miserable weather anyway, I'm still consumed with jealousy because he is going and I am staying. The only thing on my agenda is a conference at the lake in April (I hate going to Tan Tar A) and possibly the TESOL convention in Devner(which is both up in the air and work). Jason's spring break is the second week of March and while we keep toying with going somewhere, it doesn't seem to be happening. And frankly, multiple days in the car with a three year old who is still potty learning doesn't seem really relaxing. I really need a healthy dose of sunshine right now. Can someone invent one of those easy transporter things and send the three of us to the beach?

CPSIA Goes Into Effect Today, RIP Handmade Toys

It is ironic that the same day the Senate is poised to sign the Economic Stimulus Bill is the same day that the day the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act takes effect. While I'm very much in favor of the intent behind this legislation, this act is unfortunately shutting down independent US (and Canadian) made children's toys and clothing manufactures as we speak. We’ll still have Mattel and all that crap from China but we won’t have handcrafted toys, like my daughter’s wooden play kitchen, which was made in New Hampshire by a honest-to-God cabinet-maker and sealed with a hand-rubbed all-natural beeswax finish, because apparently we can’t write a bill that offers exemptions to these types of toy manufacturers. You know, the toys that have stood the test of time, the toys that we all claim we wish kids still played with, well there has been an explosion of these types of toy producers on the internet through websites like Etsy and Hyena Cart and other handmade sites over the last 5 years. Unfortunately, these sellers tend to be small (like one employee small) and in business both because they love to make things with their hands and also because they need to make ends meet. Sometimes they work other jobs, sometimes they are lucky enough to make a product that has captured the attention of enough people to support themselves and their families from their efforts. These are the same folks who can’t afford to pay the thousands of dollars worth of lead testing that the act requires. However they are also the same manufactures who do the research to make sure the products they use are safe and since they are making them in their homes primarily from natural, non-toxic raw materials, they are safe. While there was a last minute dispensation for libraries and used clothing stores to give Congress a year to figure out if the act should apply to them (and I don’t think it should), Congress did not make that same dispensation cover the thousands of small business people who use non-toxic, natural materials to make quality children's toys and clothes. The big toy importers who pay sweatshop rates to impoverished adults and children over seas will be able to pay for the testing of all the plastic junk they import, but already, shops are closing on the handmade sites and the rest of us are struggling to find the black market where we can continue to buy the toys and clothes we love or we’ll have to make it ourselves. When are we going to get something right in this country?

Sleigh Ride

We took some video during the snow days and here's one of Grammy and Nora going down the front yard. Unfortunately no footage exists of Dad pulling Nora and Mom around while Mom yells "slow down!".

Mad for Matryoshka

The past year there's been an increasing number of Matryoshka items appearing in the craft world, especially Etsy. I predict that this will soon overtake the owl/bird popularity, especially in kids market. I actually quite like the little dolls. Someone told me that they symbolize fertility, which makes sense in a way, but in any case I think they are cute without all the representational baggage. Nora is into little creatures lately (the fox family has been a great hit) and likes to carry little animals and people around and tell them stories. So I've had my eye on several Matryoshka stuffies for Valentines Day. But really I can't afford the ones I liked so much, and I really wanted a pair (either mama/baby or big sister/little sister). So I figured I could make one myself - it's not like there's a lack of fabric in this combined house - both Mom and I are fabric hoarders. So I found a couple of rough patterns on line yesterday and proceeded. Here's the pattern I used for the larger doll (I made a few changes - mainly felt for the face) and the smaller doll I just free handed the pattern. I'm not totally happy with the final - I wish I had used pink for her cheeks and lips and I wish the pocket weren't so tight, but all it all, I'm satisfied. Maybe I'll make some more if Nora loves these two.


That pink floral fabric has been in my mother's stash since I was a baby. In fact, there is a little dress cut out of the fabric that she never sewed up for me. I think Nora is too big for it now, but I might still might make it up, since it's already cut and everything, maybe she can wear it as a top. I'm glad that some of the fabric has actually gotten used after all this time, even if it is less than 3 inches square. I also found a whole bunch of patterns from my childhood - some of them mom had used for making my clothes, and some were never cut. I'm debating trying a few of them out on Nora (we certainly have enough fabric) but I'm also a little concerned about how they might turn out - several involve set in sleeves and pin-tucks, and I'm not really known for my patience and precision in sewing. Given how much she adores dresses, I really should give it a try.

What's Up Holmes?

So the New York Times has informed me about this new Sherlock Holmes movie that Guy Ritchie is doing with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Annoyingly the author of the article is all "this isn't your Basil Rathbone Holmes, he's moody, he has addictions, he has problems", and I'm thinking that clearly this person has never seen Jeremy Brett and that's a shame since he is for me the definitive Holmes and really maybe you shouldn't be writing this article if you haven't. I'm sure I'll go see the movie anyway, even though I never go see movies, because it is Sherlock Holmes and I'm sure it will be enjoyable. Although I thought it was interesting that his addiction in this is gambling and not heroin, but maybe that was a little too close to home for Robert Downey Jr.

However, it is the movie in the sidebar of this article that has me really interested: a comedy is coming out with Sacha Baron Cohen as Holmes and Will Farell as Watson. This one has me completely hooked although I'm sure they both will go way over the top with it. Well, that's my two movies for this year. Nothing else better come out that grabs me or else Jason will have a heart attack if I actually go to three movies this year.

Sewing Continued

This week I finally got around to dealing with the window in Nora's room. Here's the curtains I "made". Actually it's a shower curtain that I cut down the middle and hemmed up. I really like the way it turned out and it works in the room.
Here's the pattern close up - yeah it's toile-y but Nora really likes birds.
This morning Nora astounded us by telling my dad there was a woodpecker outside, he looked and sure enough, it was. My girl knows her birds! One of my favorite things in Nora's room is this quilt that my mom's aunt made in the 60s or 70s. I really love it so much.
On of the things that makes is so great (in addition to all the retro fabrics and crazy quilt strips) is the fabulous fabric backing it-

SHEEP! All the better for counting when you want to go to sleep. Someday I hope to make a quilt as fabulous. The rest of Nora's room is still a work in progress.
She's got way too many toys, but some of them are really mine - like that FP boat and farm and the doll house was my mom's, then mine, and now Nora's.
She's also got too many books, just like her parents. She's talking to the fox family here in these photos, but I have no idea what she's whispering in their ears.