Okay, so I'm a bad shot

Let me start this post off by saying that shooting guns is fun.

Really, really fun.

As in, I would do it regularly if I had the chance.

I'm not the greatest shot, that's for sure, but I did hit the backboard where the target was located, so that's saying something, right? Here's what I mean:

Not too bad, but I'm disappointed that I didn't do better. Maybe next time. Ben, on the other hand, hit the target with every shot and I was impressed. He showed me up! Oh, and no pictures of me with a gun, sorry. Ben offered but I declined because I worried about looking like a total ass. Again, maybe next time.

My weekend was overwhelming, but great. I had something to do on Saturday, Sunday AND Monday. Spending time with the in-laws is always a great time. Diana, my mother-in-law, sent me packing with a ton of loot that made me feel like I had just celebrated Christmas. A giant box of fabric, two huge containers of old buttons, yards and yards of lace and trims, quilting magazines...the list goes on and on. I'm a lucky gal.

pick off

It looks like we're in for a beautiful weekend! What are your plans? I came into the shop this morning and the sun was shining so sweetly through the window. I got a bit overzealous a few weeks ago and switched the window display over from winter/Valentine's day to spring. Okay, so yes, I'm one of those obsessive people who takes the holiday decorations down the day after the holiday itself. Actually, I took the Valentine display down ON Valentine's day this year. Whatever. I'm anxious for spring. I guess I thought I could at least hurry it along in my own shop.

I've got all sorts of ideas and plans sloshing around in my brain lately. I'm in the process of opening an Etsy shop, although, I worry that I might wind up regretting it. Getting inventory ready for that is fun, let me tell you. I think it will pay off in the long run. I've got a lot going on over the course of the next three days so we'll see how quickly I can get that up and running.

I've been keeping a mental list for years now of the things I'd love to do before I die. There are a lot of super outrageous things that will probably never happen, and a lot more that can easily happen...as long as I get off my lazy butt and snap to it. I'm about to check one of those things off my list tomorrow. I've never fired a gun in my entire life and it's KILLING ME!!! I'm intrigued! My father in law has so graciously offered to give me my first lesson on the farm (why pay for time at a firing range when we can just head up into the Adirondacks instead) this weekend and I'm so excited about it I could scream! So, of course now I'm completely obsessed, frantically waiting for tomorrow to arrive. I want to know all of it. I want to know the A to Z on guns...how they're made, how they work, the do's and don'ts, gun safety, etc. I don't own a gun. I don't plan to own a gun. But I'd love to feel that power and kick in my hands. Have you done this? I'd love to hear your stories if you have any. I'll try to take some pictures and show you how everything went.

Have a great weekend!!!

for the dogs

Someone contacted me from the Friends of Beman Park Association today about donating a gift certificate or an item for their raffle and fundraiser. The association is trying to raise money for a dog park near Samaritan Hospital, and I couldn't be happier about it. I've been hoping for a dog park for quite some time now (Olive needs friends), and if I had more free time I'd work my hardest on opening one even closer to our home.

For now, though, I'm more than happy to contribute to their cause, and as soon as I promised them an item to raffle off I started working. I know these bird connectors are all over the place and they've spread over Etsy like a bad cold, but I love them. And as far as I'm concerned you can never have enough bird jewelry. If you'd like to donate to the association, please contact them at fo.beman.park@gmail.com. The raffle and bake sale will take place on March 27th at 258 Broadway (the old Shake Shake Mama's) during this month's Troy Night Out festivities. Stop in either with or without your dog and grab up some baked goods for you and your best canine friends, and buy a ticket to win my necklace! My mom's donating a gorgeous turquoise bracelet and some baked goods (for people and dogs), too. Woo hoo!

P.S. Dogs are always welcome at The Paper Sparrow. In fact, I encourage it!

Two new favorites...

Okay, so as of yesterday I have two new things to add to the list of favorites in my life.

1) These damn skirts. I cranked three out in a matter of about a half hour yesterday, and I'm itching to make more. NEED. MORE. FABRIC. This may become an obsession. They're fun, they're easy, they're adorable and heck, they're even comfy. I really enjoyed your comments after yesterday's post. I'm glad to know that so many of you don't consider yourselves girly. I find a lot of comfort in that. I'm also glad to know that there's a whole other category in between girly and total tomboy. And that, my friends, is where we fit.

I wanted to wear one of the skirts today, but despite the 48 degree temperature potential, it's pouring rain and chilly. Not skirt friendly weather, unfortunately. So, I brought them back to work, put them on hangers and took a few pictures of the finished product. What do you think?

Oh, and I'd love to hear all about it if you decided to make one (or several) of these for yourself.

2) Penelope. No, not Penelope Cruz, as Google thought I was referring to when I went searching for images for this post. Yuck. I'm talking about Penelope the movie, one of the sweetest films I've seen in a long time. It's a fairy tale, so if you're not into that sort of thing you might want to skip it. But if you're like me and you enjoy escaping reality as often as possible, this is definitely for you. I've always found Christina Ricci a bit, uh, odd, I guess, but she was so great in this I couldn't believe it. Even Reese Witherspoon was great! Plus, James McAvoy is in it, too, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Scrumptious.

Anyway, the person who designed the sets for this movie deserves a huge medal. Amazing stuff. I wanted to move all of my crap into Penelope's bedroom and never leave.

I think there may be a girl in here afterall.

I've always prided myself on not being a girl.

Yes, you read that right, on NOT being a girl.

I'm plenty female, yes, but not girly. Not one little bit.

In fact, I've always been suspicious of girly girls all through my life (in many ways), but that's another post completely. Anyway, lately I've been itching for Spring, as you already know, and with that itch comes the overwhelming need for lighter clothing. Late last summer I started wearing skirts. I know, right? Skirts. I'm struggling to get past my pasty white Irish girl legs and just set them free when the weather agrees, and recently I've decided to start making my own skirts instead of buying them. I'm not much of a seamstress, and clothing has never been my strongsuit. The skirts I've made in the past have been worn strictly around the house, but never out in public. I worry that they'll look too handmade or sloppy, and more importantly, not appropriate for work, so I limited the wear to bumming-around-the-house attire only. That changed during last month's Troy Night Out, though, when I broke out of my safety zone and wore one of my handmade skirts to work. I received so many compliments on that particular skirt that I decided I must be doing something right.

So, Ben and I ventured out to the fabric store last night and I bought some material specifically for skirt-making (3 skirts to be exact). I've finished one and have the other two cut out and ready to be sewn together using this tutorial. If you're a beginner in the wide world of sewing, or if you know your stuff and need a simple pattern for making skirts of your own, give this pattern a shot. Super easy, totally customizable, and the finished product is adorable! I snagged some sweet little trims at the store, too, and I'll be adding them to the hems of the two unfinished skirts (you can see the black trim on the white skirt).

I think I'm in love.

Old friends, big talent

So, just like Troy has its gathering once a month (Troy Night Out), Albany has theirs on the first Friday of every month. I've never attended a First Friday event yet, but I'm about to. Tonight, one of my oldest and dearest friends, Mr. David P. Geurin, will exhibit his paintings at the Wine Bar & Bistro, 200 Lark Street, Albany. Head on into Albany and check it out! Seems like it'll be a great time! Dave's making quite a name for himself, eh? He's all over the place!

***

I'd just like to add here that Dave doesn't normally wear women's shoes. A cross dresser he's not. But he is a great sport and participated in last year's Walk a Mile event. I can't remember who took this photo, so I can't take credit for it, but I think maybe Kate took it. It's one of my favorite shots of Dave.

Ummmm, yeah...

...so, am I the last one to know about this masterpiece?

Just got the new issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine and this book was mentioned in the editor's letter. I almost keeled over. Ben's first response was "How much is this going to cost us?"

Heh. He knows me too well.