More wedding details you say?

So my friend enlisted me to do some additional things for the wedding. I'm making a banner for a door at the venue, which will display the seating chart for guests to find their place. Also, I'm making pretty table number cards for their Chinese wedding reception (which is the day after the big reception). Eek!!!! Next weekend this crafty banjoist will be super busy fulfilling bridesmaid duties. Lastly, another nifty detail we took care of was their menus for the reception. My Mister so kindly and willingly designed it and later printed out on beautiful shimmery card-stock. By the way doesn't that menu make you hungry??? 

-A.

Bluegrass bands...and I can't stop tapping my feet to the beat!

So in my continued studies of the banjo and its sounds I have been listening to bluegrass bands. Right now my top three are Punch Brothers- in which Noam Pikelny is just insanely amazing.  My other two are Trampled by Turtles and Greensky Bluegrass. Funny enough, now I'm kind of being more open in regards to considering learning bluegrass style. Again, I was totally biased about it since I didn't really understand what we were doing that one class with the crazy sub. I seriously can not get enough of how great the banjo sounds. To me this instrument exudes happiness and it makes me think of social gatherings with friends and family. It's a shame I don't have friends who are folk instrument players. Sometimes I feel so awkward having such different tastes but eh c'est la vie! I can't and won't conform to being like everyone else. Lately when people have been finding out I'm learning the banjo they raise their eyebrows and look at me like I have 5 heads. At first I would go on to explain and make the banjo sound super cool. Then I got tired of "justifying" my new interest. Now I just say: "because I like it." Granted,I myself think the banjo is THE coolest instrument ever!  I seriously can't not wait til my next class and more so,my own banjo. Which by the way, soon I shall have a post on the contender banjos... Hmm which one will strike my fancy and find a forever home with me? 

Ps... If you haven't done so, please check out these bluegrass bands, especially the Punch Bros. Did I mention I am loving their style? It's like a mix of classical meets the cool hipster? In my opinion that is. 

-A.

Finished totes!

Well I am thrilled about the fact that I finished the tote bags for the wedding 3 weeks early. Last Friday I worked half day and I had an insane amount of energy and motivation to just get them all done at once. Granted, I will say that this was also possible to do because I had three extra sets of hands to help me with the girls. Let's be honest there is no way possible I could have spent 6 hours straight  on my sewing machine without interruption. So yay! I'm so thankful for both grandmas and my sister for giving me all that help. This was my first "biggest" sewing project for someone else. I was nervous about meeting the deadline despite me having a good execution plan.  In addition to that, it's always a little more stressful when you are looking to meet someone else's expectations. Nonetheless, I am thrilled and I can't wait for my friend and all the other girls to see their totes. I actually ended up making a tote for my sister from a Dr. Who Dalek fabric I had bought a while back. Totes for all!!!! 

-A.

Banjo week 7

It's been an interesting week, mind you this is as positive as I can be about it. Anyway, today was my last class for intro to banjo.  How was it? I don't know. I got there and there was absolutely no parking. I spent 40 mins driving around to no avail. My tolerance level for these kind of situations is probably below the average threshold (assuming there is one? I may just be ranting). Well, with my mood being shitty already, not finding parking was the icing on the cake for today. So I drove myself home, gritting my teeth, thinking about how much I really could have used those 80 mins to change my mood. The next session doesn't start until mid October. In the mean time I will have to return my rental banjo by next week and cross my fingers I will get my very own banjo by the time beginner 2 finger style banjo starts. 

So, I guess in the mean time I will continue to fill my blog with projects and whatever other shenanigans cross my mind. 

-A.

P.S. - Last Saturday a group of my mommy friends decided we would do something to honor Kira. She loved the color green and trees. I found this beautiful tree in my coloring book just for her. 

Banjo week 6

Well this week was kind of rough. However I'd say it was because Jonas wasn't there. Instead we had another guy, he primarily teaches clawhammer style but he got us started on bluegrass style, which is with 3 fingers. Can I say I am not fan? Perhaps it was because I was lost most of the class with this instructor. I am a very visual person and this guy wanted us to play Groundhog by using different frets that I have never played. In addition to that, he basically just told us the notes/frets to play verbally. My memory sucks. I need visual aids!!! So I was pretty annoyed the whole time and was able to play a few notes here and there. However, we did practice clawhammer and 2 finger style so that was a good refresher. He also talked a lot about other banjo players and well I felt like that class overall was disappointing. Turns out a few of my other classmates felt the same. We all collectively said: "yeah totally spent the class lost and basically winged as much I could. Thank goodness for so and so for being such a stellar player, he drowned all of us out." Our last class is this Thursday and I am hoping Jonas will be there to clear out our confusions and maybe bluegrass won't be so bad. I'm feeling nostalgic about intro to banjo coming to an end. I can't believe how fast time has passed. It's funny a lot of my friends are just finding out about my banjo adventure and everyone says: Why the banjo? Really?-I love that they are perplexed by choice of instrument. Yet, the banjo changed me in ways no one could imagine. What started as a crazy idea has led me to go out and do other things for myself.  It's hard to do things when others don't quite necessarily support you or pass it off as a joke. This is the one time I feel somewhat accomplished.  Seriously the whole "do what makes you happy" hasn't rang more true than it has at this instant. Yay me!

Also, cause I've been promising and I finally gave up on my computer so instead I uploaded a couple of videos of me playing...if you follow me on Instagram you have already seen these.  

https://youtu.be/sAHQPyYwpcA

https://youtu.be/kd7HOCFV-0A

-A. 

This week in a nut shell...

I'm currently working on a minion themed  birthday banner. In addition to this I am also going to be working on a cut out frame and some minion themed props. A very special little boy is turning 3 and his mommy is giving him an amazing minion frenzy birthday. I can't wait to share pictures of the actual birthday party. There will be so many little DIY details. I am having so much fun working on this banner.  It could be because the minions have always had me at Bello!!!! (haha lame I know).

-A.

Updated pics with my contributions to the party.  

And I have no clue where the other props went so, I didn't get pics of the goggles.  

F You suicide & Emotional scars

I don't even really know how to begin. I wrote this post last night and all throughout it I kept thinking of Kira, my "mommy" friend. We shared such a similar traumatic birth story, she was actually the first person I reached out to when I was in ICU. Somehow it felt like déjà vu. Well it was almost like I was trapped in Kira's birth story. Turns out, we just shared a similar situation. Something that shook our cores. So as I wrote my post last night, Kira kept popping in my head and in fact I was looking forward to her reading this because I'm sure she would have had something to say. However the one night I didn't check Facebook something else was happening. Word was spreading, Kira had lost her battle to depression. She was such an inspiration to many. She always had the right thing to say, was never afraid to voice her opinion, kind, determined, tough as nails, and knew how to pick someone up when they were down. Of course she knew what it was like, she had been battling PTSD, anxiety and depression on and off. I'm pissed that someone so amazing felt that there was no remedy to her pain and that the only way to find her peace was to take her life.  F*#% YOU depression! You took away someone that impacted a huge community of "internet friends." I'm saddened by thought that her 5 children lost their mother to such a silent illness. Kira, in your own words, you were formidable as fuck. I hope that you are free of pain and that you have found your peace wherever you may be. You will be missed. 

              "Be formidable as fuck."

                Kira Martin 1982-2015

Now here is what I had written last night:

Let's talk a little bit about emotional scars.

With Z's 2nd birthday coming up I'm beginning to feel a little anxiety.  The thought of her turning two not only makes me feel amazed at how fast time has gone by but it also brings up a huge emotional whirlwind for me. Some of you may know my dramatic birth story and nearly two years later my family still tenses up thinking of that Tuesday morning of September 10, 2013 where things became uncertain really fast and what should have been a very joyful moment turned into something really scary.... Well let me say that it took me a long time to look at newborn pics of Z and not cry. It took me a long time to understand the complexity of what had happened to my body. It took me a long time to accept and love all the extra scars I have on my body including the one that served as a door for my Z leave one world and enter another one. I often would find myself taking a shower and running my fingers across my c-section scar and crying because of all the things that looking and touching that scar reminded me of. Despite the fact that I have a thorough appreciation for my 3rd chance at life. Yes, you read correctly 3rd. My second one was back in May '09 when I totaled my little Scion tC going 70 miles an hour on I95  and walked away with only slight bruising and some serious seat belt burn rash. Anyway, I still struggle from time to time with my emotional scar of Z's birth. Whenever my FB newsfeed pops up yet another story about a c-section or some traumatic birth story my eyes well up, the hairs on my body crawl, my stomach twists into knots and my brain just automatically replays everything. Every single detail I can recall from that week in the hospital. I try not to look my scars anymore, yet they are ever so present, tiny little white scars on my wrists, my collarbone, and my forearm. All little reminders of the very same week I wish wouldn't make me feel so much sadness and emotional pain. I like to believe that I have healed and for the most part I have, but when the thoughts strike up it sucks. I wish I could take away all  the crazy and uncertainty my family had to live through. I wish I could have had those first 3 days with my Z. I wish things had been different. Yet I know that I can't change any of that. I do, however hope that eventually my emotional scar fades and that when future September 10th's roll around I can just look at my sweet Z and celebrate her birthday without having to think of all the extra mess. 

-A.

Bridal shower...

The event was pretty successful despite Mother Nature being so strange. Tons of wind knocking everything down, blazing heat that caused me to sunburn like a lobster and then a random moment of torrential rain with hail. It was fun honoring my friend of 17 years. Everyone did such an awesome job. Michelle outdid herself with all of the desserts. Now I know who to hire for dessert tables. She has major dessert skills!!! Tiffany and her fabulous Parisian photo props were a huge hit. Linda was such a great host and made everyone feel so welcomed. Rabia had such a beautiful cake made that gave Cindy quite the surprised face. Overall, so many of the girls just pitched in and put their own touch to make such a lovely afternoon happen. I think there were over 30 women altogether. I feel truly blessed to have such great old friendships in my life. Yes I realize that I am lucky to not just have one but multiple women that hold such special places in my heart and each one of them in their own special way. Despite everyone having their own lives and insane schedules when we come together we become those 13 year old girls who would laugh until our bellies hurt...At the shower I also had the chance to see a couple of girls we went to elementary school with, as well as  a number of girls we also went to high school with. It truly was like a mini school reunion. Now I am exhausted, sugared up and so not ready for Monday.  

 “People are weird. When we find someone with weirdness that is compatible with ours, we team up and call it love.”

– Dr. Seuss

Banjo week 5

Class on Thursday was fun. Jonas was back and he dove right into teaching us different 2 finger style techniques. I am enjoying this style because it feels really natural. We played "Groundhog" and we simply slayed!!! We all have the melody down and the 2 finger style picking just came really easy. In addition to this song, we also played "Cluck old Hen" which Matt had given to us last week. Sadly, Thursday was our last day to of covering 2 finger style as we start bluegrass for the remainder of our classes. I'm almost positive that from all three styles I want to continue with 2 finger style. Although Clawhammer sounds pretty neat I just can't seem to get it right and my fingers just get crampy. We will see how bluegrass, which is with 3 fingers will go. I can't believe how fast time has gone.

-A.