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Just completed my very first screen printing project! Wahoo! Dallas was a good helper and looked super cute in his little art apron and gloves.  

The guy at the art store told me I could get the screen filler out just by using a soft bristled brush and regular dishwashing soap – Wrong! I scrub and scrub to no avail. Looks like I’ll have to go buy some actual screen filler remover liquid.

It seems like such a waste to clear the screen and make a new design, but how many chicks do i really need? 

The design was something I saw on a stamp that I altered slightly. Perhaps its a bit girlish, but I liked it, so now the kid has got to wear it. 

 

Now I just have to let the paint dry completely, then heat set the design with an iron. I think it will be nerve wracking the first time I wash the garment, but no more so than the first time I have to wash the kid. 

I decided to learn how to do basic screen printing, primarily in order to make the baby some cute little shirts and onesies. After spending the better part of a day learning what I could from art store sites and how-to videos on You Tube, I decided against getting involved with the photo emulsion technique, at least for now. The designs I have in mind will be pretty straight forward and I think it will be more fun to just paint them on my screen by hand. I decided to get myself started with a basic fabric screen print kit by Speedball. I have completed the first step which involved washing the screen, now I’m waiting for it to dry. I stopped by American Apparel this morning and picked up a few basic baby items to print. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. 

I had it in my head I was going to get more done on this project today, but since I’m so freaking pregnant all I was able muster was opening the box, rinsing the screen, then taking a nap. Tomorrow is a new day!

Dallas thinks I’m gonna jinx it by declaring our Indian Summer as arrived, but I don’t believe in that. So on that note – Indian Summer has arrived! Whee! Yay for summer in SF! It is 3:15p and 91°F. I guess to officially be an Indian Summer it has to remain above 70°F for seven days after the autumnal equinox, but my point is that its hot, and nice, and warm, and hot, and lovely. 

It might be a tad more lovely if i were floating on a raft down this lake.  Ahhhh…

From Wikipedia:

“In San Francisco, as an example, Indian summer is a less useful phrase because winter and summer temperatures do not vary much and September is the warmest month.”

“In some regions, such as the southeastern United States, Indian summer is colloquially used to describe the hottest times of the year, typically in late July or August. These, however, are more accurately known as dog days in reference to the prominence of a star during that period.”

 

I just saw these adorable knit monster booties today! In case you didn’t know, I’m pretty into knitting booties. The only non-standard type booties I’ve made have been UGG style. I think these monster feet will have to be next.

Here are the UGG ones I made one winter.  Pattern here. 

 

 

The other day I came across a little How-To on making an old t-shirt into a Newborn Gown. So I made Dallas rummage through all of his clothes and pick out something that he was okay with me cutting up and giving new life. The victim, his Tony Hawk long sleeve t.

Here it is in 2002:
(Already a bit faded and stretched out.)

It took me a bit of cutting and taping to get the pattern in working order after I downloaded it. Turns out you need to resize it to fit an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper too. I realized this once I had the pattern all taped together and it was my size! Still even the new smaller version seems quite big for a newborn, but in a couple months I’m sure it will fit just fine. Eventually I plan to cut the bottom off and transform it into a kid sized t-shirt. I think it will have slightly longer life that way.

 

Finished product:

I think it will be easier to sew things for our baby once I know how big babies and kids actually are. Right now its all a guessing game. (I mean, I’d totally be guessing anyway but at least I’d have him to hold garments up to and see how off I am before committing.) The thing is once he’s here, I won’t have as much time and energy to actually sew anything. Oh well. That’s why they invented stores.

 

Oh, how I miss you burning man…

I just loaned out some of my favorite playa outfits, a dusty red bike, and did some touch up hot glue gun work on an EL wire project.  *sigh*  I miss you BRC.  We’ll be together again someday.

 

37 weeks

Keep an eye out for the grand opening of Nettie’s Crab Shack, a new restaurant by Living Room Events chef/partner Brian Leitner! I’m excited that there is finally going to be a good mid-range seafood eatery in SF. How sad it is that in a city known for its seafood, all we have to show for it is the Fisherman’s Wharf. 

“Located in San Francisco’s Marina district and expected to open this fall, Brian’s new venture will focus on regional seafood highlighting New England and New Orleans specialties.”

Check out the recent post on the Foodie 411 blog! 

 

Last night we had sort of a summer’s bounty dinner. I made fresh corn soup and panzanella. Yum! Right now I’m having more panzanella for lunch. Basically it is an Italian tomato bread salad. Its an awesome way to enjoy super delicious, peak of the season, summer produce.

My version (with the Barefoot Contessa Vinaigrette):

Salad Ingredients

red onions, sliced very thin
heirloom tomatoes (3 varieties), cut into medium chunks
sungold cherry tomatoes, halved through the belly button
lemon cucumber, chunked
basil, lots of it torn or roughly chopped
acme sour batard (bread), 1″ cubes

Vinaigrette Ingredients

1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Italian Romano Pecorino Sheep Milk, shaved with a vege peeler

For bread: Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add bread cubes and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned.

Toss all salad & vinaigrette ingredients together, then top with shaved cheese.

(This photo is someone else’s version served on top of the bread)

I’m loving this clock right now.

Design George Nelson, 1949.
Wood, metal.