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If Only I Could Play

December
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I took guitar lessons for awhile, starting when I was 18. I really loved learning to play, but eventually I ran out of money and had to quit. I wish I’d had the determination to continue on my own, but I didn’t. I hadn’t picked up a guitar for a few years now, but suddenly I wanted to again.

I blame Alex’s loft, which I saw at the Apartment Therapy Party on Friday. He had a couple of guitars on display, and they made me think of my own. I have two electrics (my old Danelectro 56-U2 and a vintage Fender Telecaster), a Sigma acoustic, and a Lotus bass. They’ve all been sitting in the basement.

I also have a clarinet but I suppose those aren’t as cool, right? ;)

Me • 8 Comments • December 10, 2007

P.O. Box 1268

December
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I can’t find my shrinky dink paper (woe is me!). I wanted to make a key chain and take a photo with my new key because I have a shiny new Oak Park P.O. Box. This is what my key chain will look like eventually:

Wondering where to send snail mail (or goodies) to me?

Pink Loves Brown
P.O. Box 1268
Oak Park, IL 60304

I’m at the post office quite a bit these days.

A huge thank you to my lovely, lovely customers! I truly appreciate it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

p.s. My Periodic Table of Sentiments cards were in Daily Candy today, and I’m thrilled to pieces!

Me, Pink Loves Brown • 13 Comments • December 3, 2007

Whew!

November
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I have been a very busy lady.

Thursday

The guest room was finished up as well as it could be. I’m going to order the Marimekko Lumimarja fabric for the windows. The friendly people over at Finnstyle are offering me (and you) 15% off until Friday! Just enter “makingitlovely” when you check out.

Here’s the way the room turned out for now:

This was all in preparation for the arrival of my friend Lili, of course.

We went to the Design*Sponge Biz Ladies Meet-Up, which was great. I saw some friends (like Donovan and Grace), met some new people, was recognized (yay!), and ate yummy snacks.

Friday

Lili and I walked around Oak Park, checking out some of the shops (Flybird, Fitzgerald’s Fine Stationery, Paper Source, Barbara’s Bookstore, etc.).

I also hired a second employee! Yes, again. Did I ever write about Sarah? She didn’t work out, but I digress. My friend Pat had just quit at the bookstore, so he’ll be helping me for the holidays. Hooray!

Later, we went to Emily’s open house at her studio. Gorgeous! She has an amazing space with wood floors, huge windows, tall ceilings, and space. Sigh.

Oh, and I met Jess from How About Orange there, so that was a nice surprise!

Saturday

Saturday was my last day with Lili, so we stopped by the DIY Trunk Show before I brought her to the airport. I was recognized again, and it completely made my day (and made me blush!). I bought a poster for The Fiery Furnaces from David R. Head Jr., and we both bought an Implements of Craft poster from Handmade Nation.

After I had dropped Lili off, I went directly to meet up with my sister and my dad. My sister’s car died, and she decided that she needed a new one OHMYGODRIGHTNOW. Uh huh. There was no way I could talk her out of it (believe me, I tried), so I figured I could at least help her get a good deal. She and my dad were ready to sign off on a car for $247 / month for six years. I got them down to $225 / month for five years. Still crazy, but less so.

I rushed home after car shopping and started cooking because Brandon and I had a pot luck dinner to go to. I made a sweet glazed bell pepper salad: roasted red and yellow peppers and red onions (coated in olive oil), then mixed with balsamic vinegar, honey, and chopped kalamata olives. We hopped on the el with our big bowl of food and headed over to Amy and Anthony’s place. It was a really nice evening with other crafty people, and lots of yummy food.

Sunday

My friends Bekah and Lisa just finished grad school (such smarties), and they rented out Timber Lanes to celebrate. Um, I bowled a 53. I haven’t done that badly since I was 8. Brandon bowled a 133, and we were all very impressed. Much shouting and excitement commenced whenever anyone broke 100, so…

After bowling, I drove out to IKEA. I thought they were open until 9 o’clock on Sundays, but they’re only open until 8. I arrived at 7:55. Luckily, I knew exactly what I was there for: the wire baskets I had spied in Emily’s studio. I grabbed 15 of them, hit the self-checkout lanes, and was out of there pretty quickly.

Lastly, I got home and finalized a deal with T.G.I.Friday’s for a custom button order (550 buttons for the Chicagoland area). I’m bringing in a new button machine for it, so I’ll also have 2.25″ mirrors available in the future over at the shop.

Whew! A busy end to a busy week.

Guest Room, Me, Pink Loves Brown • 20 Comments • November 18, 2007

Surprise!

September
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My sister (Ashley) and I went shopping Friday. “I need new work pants” she said, and she wanted me to go with her. So we went… to Woodfield (the largest mall in Chicagoland).

I knew I was in for a long day.

Now, I’ve been feeling down lately – overwhelmed really. My birthday should be a happy time, but last year my grandfather had fallen ill and passed away right after my birthday. Then about a week later, I lost my other grandfather. My friend refered to that time as “The Scourge of Grandpas”. Add to that pain shooting from my elbows to my wrists constantly (yes, even now), plus a general heaping of stress, and you start to see why I’ve been feeling the way I have. Shopping with my sister sounded like a nice diversion.

We left around 2:00. Ashley is a marathon shopper, and I knew we’d be out there for a while. Still, we didn’t leave Woodfield until 7:30. Yikes! After a quick stop at IKEA (I was too tired to shop anymore) to return a few things, we were on our way back to my house.

As we came in the back door, I was singing “Ashley… TOP OF THE POPS!” à la Art Brut (because hi, I’m just that cool). I immediately noticed several candles lit, which is strange. Thinking maybe Brandon has some sort of romantic surprise waiting, I turned to Ashley: “Um, maybe you should leave?” Then I noticed three pizza boxes sitting on the counter. Hmmm… Brandon must have been really hungry while I was gone. Then a cat comes up to me to be pet. Except it wasn’t our cat. It was the friendly neighborhood cat that we often see outside, and I was really confused at that point. Why would Brandon let this cat in?

I put down my bag (I only bought two things: a $4 ring, and Prada perfume), and I went to grab the cat. I was following it (her/him?) into the dining room, and…

S U R P R I S E ! ! !

A surprise party! For me!

Ashley had taken me shopping to get me out of the house. A ha! I truly wasn’t expecting it. We had gone out to New Rebozo (here in Oak Park) for my birthday, on my birthday last week, and it was lovely. I got a sombrero.

Brandon had planned a surprise party for me last year, but as I mentioned, that was right around the time my grandfather had fallen ill. Brandon told me about it just before (because I had been in such a state), and asked if I wanted to go forward with it. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t be around people at that time, trying to be happy.

This year he decided to try again.