Sally Ann

DIY Ladder Towel Rack

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:37:00 +0000

Looking for a fun quirky towel rack for your bathroom that isn't the norm? Head to a thrift shop or used furniture store and find a ladder. For this rack, I found an old bunk bed ladder for only $7! Our new bathroom is so tiny, I wanted something tall and close to the wall.

And what's the point of buying a towel rack at the store when you can make it for less, and have something original made BY YOU!?

You will need:

ladder
brackets
drill
wood screws and/or anchors
tape measure
level

1] Measure beneath the first step, a few inches in, and mark where each bracket will be attached. 2] Attach first bracket on one side of the ladder. I attached a bracket beneath the first and third steps. 3] Flip over the ladder and attach the other two brackets. 4] Make sure they are installed the same depth so the ladder hangs symetrical and the same distance from the wall at all brackets. 5] Attach to the wall. If you aren't hitting 2x4 with one hole on each bracket, use anchors to prevent towel rack from coming off the wall. Check that it's level! 6] Adorn with towels!

Voila. Piece of cake. Now you'll have a towel rack that no one else has, making your bathroom unique and one of a kind. To make it extra special, try painting the ladder, and sand parts of the paint off for an aged look.

What kind of DIY do you like to use for decorating your bathroom?

Back to work

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:24:00 +0000

I'm back at it. Sewing and sewing as the day is long. This week, I have one mission: use up ALL of my scrap fabric. For years, I've saved all the small leftover pieces of fabric from all kinds of sewing projects. I carefully sort them by color, print, size, and place them in plastic zipper bags, the kind that a pillowcase comes in when brand new. These little bags are great for scraps, since you can see what's inside. Well the hoarder in me is great at keeping all of these little bags, and I'm pretty sure I have at least 10 bags of scraps.

Using all this leftover fabric, I'm making at least a hundred little hair barrets and bows. A fun way to kick back and sew. Music is on in my sewing room, or Mamma Mia, or some other musical I can pleasantly ignore. I make them in steps. And even the smallest little scraps are used for the center of the bow. It's amazing the kinds of things one can make with a little imagination and planning. I love making twenty or more bows, and then looking into my waste basket of teeny piece of fabric trimmed off, and threads, that is ALL that goes into the trash!

Ursula's current outfit, a dress I made last September for Arts In The Heart. The top is a vintage slip, hand dyed blue. The skirt, a silk blouse with cats. You can see more of the dress here.

Zeus' protest while I work. He plants himself on the floor and sleeps all day at my feet. His little buddy, a black stuffed animal dog, his mini-me, goes everywhere he goes. He can thank his Aunt Katie for the baby Zeus. Our last day in Augusta, the mayor deemed "Matt Stone Day" (Matt Stone was Matt's moniker in Augusta). He was a radio personality in Augusta for 7 years, and among other things he contributed to the local comedy scene, Matt was a pretty big deal. Well on our last day there, Katie dressed up like Matt, and it was epic. She wore reflective Ray Bans, Toms shoes, an Auburn hat, a v-neck tee, drew on Matt's arm tattoo, with a stuffed dog by her side, drinking a PBR at Stillwater with us. Basically, she was Matt.

When we got to Jacksonville, Matt and I gave Zeus baby Zeus, this stuffed animal, and encouraged him to be nice to it. I'll pick it up and cradle it like I do the cats, and say "good baby," to the stuffed animal. We treat it like another animal in the house, and Zeus babies it like it's his job. Every now and again, he'll try ripping it up, and we say "Easy, Zeus, be nice to your buddy!" And then he stops and rests his head on it. This little thing goes everywhere with him. I've been trying to sneak it away from him to sew up a few holes he's accidentally made in him, but every time I take it from Zeus, he needs it back. Silly dog.

Back to talking about sewing... I digress and could spend all day talking about that dog; Zeus is the best. I love sewing little things from scraps, and there are so many ways to use up small pieces that most people would just toss in the trash.

A great way to be sure to use all the small pieces of fabric: create a plastic bin exclusively for small scarps! Shred them and use for stuffing a throw pillow instead of buying fiberfill, make a quilt, use for small details and embroider an old t-shirt to give it new life, use as the background of a small embroidered wall hanging, make a sunglasses case so you don't scratch your shades, add detail to a hand towel in your kitchen to have a nice added decoration, the possibilities are endless!

As I make a million little bows, I'm daydreaming and m really looking forward to selling my work in this city. Making friends and getting new clients. Making a name for Sally Ann in a new place. Working with Matt on more videos for Sally Ann. Keep an eye out for more big things soon!

Also, there's a HUGE sale in my Etsy shop right now, 40% off everything for the month of June, to make room for new work! Use the coupon code "JuneSale" at checkout to apply the discount. (Not valid on the daily featured sale item, that is 50% off).

Happy Wednesday friends!

At the river with Zeus

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:10:00 +0000

Another Monday, another week to plan and work more towards getting settled here in Jacksonville. Today is the first day I've felt almost back to normal in almost a week. I've had the nastiest cold/flu since Thursday night last week. I've spent days and days in bed, watching terrible chick flicks and bad television with Zeus and the girls. There is nothing more frustrating that being sick.

But the best thing to have when you're sick, a giant dog in bed to snuggle with you. Zeus is my sweet sweet boy and he always makes me feel better. Since Thursday, I was the most unproductive being. I made a few lists here and there, cleaned the house, unpacked some more, but as far as actual work goes, the most I accomplished was applying for the local arts market. Cross your fingers they accept me.

Saturday was a little better. Matt and I went to the beach in the afternoon and I think I spent 4 hours sleeping in the sun. A great place to be when you're sick, I slept on a blanket while Matt enjoyed a few PBRs and soaked up the sun. I was sure to use SPF 60 all over to be able to enjoy my napping. I'm not messing around with this Florida sun and my skin. No premature aging for this face!

As far as office hunting goes, it's kinda sorta up in the air. Still have to get some kinks worked out and then I'll see what happens. Hopefully, I'll end up with a downtown office that is just perfect. In the meantime, I'm going to set up a make-shift sewing area in our outdoor garage and get some new things made this week.

Happy Monday friends!

The Porkchop

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:01:00 +0000

There are very few people that make such striking first impressions as Leonard 'Porkchop' Zimmerman. I'd been a huge fan of his work around Augusta for years, and I didn't actually meet him until the night before his gallery opening at Gaartdensity. A special friends and family showing, Matt and I were the last ones to arrive before close, and suddenly we were the only ones there. In the gallery was Matt, Leonard, the gallery owner and myself. Leonard walked me through the story of his collection, paintings of robots staring at the stars, and a bird on a robot's shoulder. The collection was the story of the sudden loss of his partner in 2006 to Leonard's path of grieving and living life thereafter. We hadn't known each other 5 minutes, and we both cried together as he told me stories of he and Brian. It was beautiful.

Since that gallery showing, I see Leonard all over downtown, having worked just a few doors down from Wier Stewart, where he works as a graphic designer. An Augusta native and SCAD graduate, you can always spot him in Downtown Augusta, in converse shoes (which may not be the same color shoe on each foot), and he's always chewing on candy or has a dum dum in his mouth. If you can't find Leonard, you're sure to see his Happy stickers around town as well.

A connoisseur of sweets, it's an understatement to say Leonard has a sweet tooth. Mixology has never really been my thing, but of all the years I spent bartending, there is only one drink I can proudly claim to have created: The Porkchop. Sweet and fruity. And perfecly Porkchop. And now that I'm retired from F&B, this will be the only drink that is "by Sally". I'm quite proud of my concoction, and Leonard absolutely loves it!

The Porkchop:

Cut the end off the bottom side of a Twizzler, place in glass. Fill glass with ice.

1 oz. Mandarin Absolut Vodka + 1/2 oz. raspberry Schnapps. Top off with pineapple juice. Bite off that first bit of Twizzler and you have your straw.

Make for your friends and have a Porkchop party! Get adventurous and add other candy garnishes! You can visit his site and see more of his work here.

Photos courtesy of Noah Fecks and Leonard Zimmerman.

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My 'new' city

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:16:00 +0000

Favorite new thing to do between errands in Jacksonville: drive around and wander aimlessly. Getting to know a new city with no real guide or friend to take you around can make quite the adventure. For years, when discovering new places, whether it be for fun, work, or a place where I've recently moved, wandering around is my preferred way to get to know a neighborhood.

Sometimes not the safest thing to do if one doesn't have a good sense of direction, as you may end up in a bad end of town with just one wrong turn, it's important to remember which way you came from, and have an anchor point, remember landmarks, main roads, etc.

Well, when Matt and I first came to Jacksonville, and he was interviewing for his new job at Florida Times Union, I met up with his new bosses for lunch. I had been wandering around downtown all morning, finding cute new coffee shops and reading newspapers in the park when I got the call to head across town. To get to the restaurant, I took an expressway from downtown and cut down a side street, to get to a little neighborhood called Avondale. On this side street, I saw "Office Space" and a cute little building with a crazy low rent price in a neighborhood called Riverside.

Since we've been planning our Jacksonville life and new start here, I've returned to that building, called on it, and looked at office space. Yesterday morning, on my way to look at these offices, I made a wrong turn, or shall I say, I wasn't looking at my map and just navigating with my memory, and came across this park, Lakeside Park.

This park borders a drawbridge south of downtown where the view of the skyline is breathtaking. It's just a few miles away from my house, but the runners I saw while snapping some pictures are probably having the best day ever, after that run through this beautiful park and neighborhood. I wish I was a runner to be able to discover more of the city on my feet. Maybe someday. Until then, I'll grab my morning tea or coffee and drive or walk to find my new favorite places in Jacksonville.

Again this morning, I'm going back to the same building in Riverside to look at the office that wasn't open yesterday. While I sit and blog remotely from Starbucks, I'm making a route in my head of the new direction I'll take to get there, hoping I'll find some more beautiful places to take Zeus and have picnics with Matt on our lunch breaks. Also, I'm really crossing my fingers my 10 AM appointment this morning yields the cutest little window office that my poor starving artist money can buy.

Pretty soon, I'll be spending my eight hour days in the sweetest little office, my name on a window, and sewing my little heart away. Lunch breaks downtown in the Florida sun. Evenings cooking at home. Agh, can't wait to plan more new things.

I hope y'all are having the best week ever! Because I sure am, and I don't want to hog all the happiness. Have a great day friends. Tutorial coming later this week, promise.

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Shelby Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:57:00 +0000

Monday morning already, and it's time to get back to the grind. After a week of settling in and unpacking in Jacksonville, many beach days, and an intense sunburn, it's time to get back to work. Matt started his new job today at the Florida Times Union, and I'm starting to get back into Sally Ann mode. Time to get this show on the road. Gah, so many things to do, and so many lists to make!

I'm currently sitting in a little laundromat, on my iPad, with iPhone nearby playing Ponderosa's new album, and getting some things squared away. First things first, I have to locate a nearby hardware store to look into stain for Shelby's interior. This week, we completed 99% of her interior walls. We finally purchased a jigsaw to finish from pieces that fit around windows. I'm really missing my access to my friends millworks, tablesaw, scroll saw, and all his amazing tools. But hey, the best part about working on Shelby, it's an excuse to buy new tools. Next on our tool shopping list: a little sander, grinder with metal brush to sand down the bumper and tongue, some rubber gaskets to cover the side holes, 2x4s, and wood screws.

Florida is definitely hotter than I expected it to be! And the sun is SO HOT! It's really hard to get things done midday here. When I worked on Shelby, I'd cut some in the morning, take a lunch break at the hottest part of the day, and then come back, with little breaks here and there for water. It is so nice though, to have a garage to set up shop. Before, in Georgia, we'd haul everything over to Trent's shop, or work in our backyard, hauling everything from our apartment to the outside. Because of our neighborhood in downtown Augusta, we never left anything outside, not even for 20 minutes. Now, we live in a cute little family neighborhood that is nice and quiet, right by a river inlet. I need to get it in my head: sunscreen everytime I go outside! Or: sunscreen every morning all over before I get dressed.

Hello from Florida! It's a great day to wear a vintage swimsuit jumper as clothing. Aside from all the Shelby work I need to finish before I do any local art shows, art walks, etc, I need to start calling on some leads for office spaces. Eeeek! How exciting! I'm not working from home anymore. I have my Kenmore in our home office, in case a dress I'm wearing needs mending, or Matt needs alterations, but the majority, 99% of my sewing tools and accessories are staying out of the house. We have a large "pole barn" workshop, seperate from the garage, where I'm sew until the office is up and running.

It's very important, for this new chapter of Sally Ann, to seperate home from work. For the last 5 years, I've worked from home. And it's drove me crazy. I don't know how to relax at home, I'm always thinking about work, and I'm endlessly distracted when I am working. Dog, cats, TV, cleaning, chores, food, and countless other distractions always get the best of me. And then when it's time to relax and call it a day, work is right there, and the need to keep working never goes away.

I look forward to opening an office door, working 8-10 hours, breaking for lunch, meeting Matt at a cute coffee shop to see each other, and then back to work until I call quitting time. Locking that office door and going home to home. Ahhh it's going to be amazing.

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And we're home!

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:15:00 +0000

Phew. We've made it! HOORAY! After the longest weekend of my life, Matt and I are now in Jacksonville, FLorida, our new city. With many bumps along the way, our caravan of moving truck, SUV, Jeep, and Shelby pulled into our driveway, keys under the mat, and with place to lay rest our head. Moving is no fun, let me tell you. Unpacking is still coming along, slowly but surely, these things are always the longest of all. Good news, we have a gorgeous house right by the river, a back yard for Zeus, and we get a week before Matt starts his new job to explore our new city and finish Shelby. Since we're waiting on our internet to be hooked up, I'll be remotely blogging and working from a Starbucks. At this point I'm just happy to have some internet access. It's been a nightmare trying to find a working hotspot! Matt and I spent the better part of our morning all over town, trying to connect to the internet via Wifi. First, a cute downtown coffee shop with Wifi that wouldn't connect, then to a public park downtown with the same issue, Wifi that wouldn't connect. THEN two separate public libraries that were closed until hours later. FINALLY, we made it to Starbucks a few miles from our house. At last, we have internet and I have my iPad. Sweet release.

Good news, this weekend was a blast. Our friend, Jonathan, drove down with us to help with the drive and unload the truck. We spent a bit of Sunday at the beach before more unpacking. And with Monday being Memorial Day, we relaxed all day, wandered here and there, and then headed down to The Landing for a free concert put on by the local rock station, X102.9. Coheed and Cambria were headlining, with a few other bands playing early in the evening. The concert was on the river and absolutely amazing. We just happened to run into our new friends we'd met the day before at the beach, with whom we all played beach volleyball. Talk about small world, eh?

Next on our agenda, making some furniture for the house before I lose Matt to his sweet new job with the Florida Times Union. Pretty soon, you'll all be able to go to Jacksonville.com and see Matt, their new video reporter. He's going to be a superstar in no time, and I'll be a vendor at all downtown art shows, and setting up shop in an office, downtown or in the Riverside area, set up away from the house. We're both super excited. We're also in the planning stages for a line of men's t-shirts and screenprinting division of Sally Ann. Big things ahead, big things.

Hopefully, I'll be back soon with more Jacksonville updates, but in the meantime we'll be settling in and working like crazy to get back to normal. Hope you are all doing well! See y'all soon!

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Goodbye Augusta

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:42:00 +0000

As I complete the final stages of packing up my home, it's bittersweet to reflect on my years in Augusta. It's been a great time here, and it is very difficult to sum up the joys and memories this state has given me. Almost three and a half years ago, I moved to the state of Georgia from my native Michigan, to live with my sister, who was stationed at an Army base here in town. I brought my business with me, and Sally Ann was in it's infancy still, being only handbags and accessories made from recycled materials.

Within a month in Augusta, I met the most amazing woman and my best friend, Sarah. She and I were both vendors at the "First Friday" art walk in downtown Augusta. I had asked her to watch my booth while I went across the street to get some coffee. I got her a cup as well and our friendship was born. Shy at first, I asked her if she wanted to get a beer after we packed up our booths. We walked down to a little dive bar and the rest is history. Last month, I was the maid of honor in her wedding.

And next. My favorite lady, Jessica. We met years ago while dating two people that couldn't have been more wrong for us at a sports bar and restaurant. We bonded over our mother's being gun owners and badass ladies. Jessica and I immediately clicked and became close friends. She is beyond wonderful. I'm going to miss my Sunday mimosas, ice cream, and crying in public with this lady. Thick as thieves this gal and I. She's a gem.

Augusta also brought Matt and I together. We were an unlikely match on paper, with little in common and two very different people. He's a Georgia-born rock radio DJ, on-air personality, and comedian, and I'm an eccentric designer from Michigan. Almost three years later we're still strong as ever. We are so excited to start a new chapter of our lives together in a new city. Cheesy? Yes. But true.

This city has also helped me to flourish SO MUCH professionally. It's incredible how supportive everyone has been and pushed me to the next level. With all my hard work, and productions I've produced in this town, I've stuggled lately, since there isn't much more I could do here that I haven't already. I've put on a gallery show, three fashion shows, and countless craft shows. I'm ready for another city to conquer. Jacksonville here I come!

While I can't highlight all the amazing close friends I've gained from Augusta, since I should really be packing right now, I love you all of you Augustans reading this.

People tell me Jacksonville will be amazing and not to miss Augusta. But I believe it is highly unlikely that I will meet people like those I have met in Augusta. I was so lucky to have met truly incredible, kind, loving people that have been my family for the last few years that there weren't any. I know where ever life takes me, I will make friends and build relationships with wonderful people, but these Augusta folks will always be at the top of my list.

And apologies for a disjointed writing piece for my blog. My brain is in a million places and my eye is twitching from stress. Must. Get. Back. To. Packing. Have a great weekend everyone; my iMac is going in a box, and I'm packing up the rest of the house.

Goodbye for now, Augusta. We'll meet again.

Moving Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:47:00 +0000

Packing up and headed out this Saturday.

Take advantage of this awesome sale in my Etsy shop.

Clutch pictured above listing here.

Marimekko Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Ever since I fell in love with Marushkas and silk screen wall art, I have been the biggest fan of all things Marimekko. Have you heard of either? Both are silk screen companies that make the most beautiful prints. Marimekko was popular in the 60s, Marushkas in the 70s. Similar in style, Marushkas are like the American nature version of Marimekko.

Marushkas were printed in West Michigan, where I was born and raised. Since they were so popular in the 70s, and printed nearby, they were always readily available at local thrift stores. My parents always shook their head at me and my infatuation with the prints, because to them, it was something they wanted to forget about. Ugly things from their past. I just can't get enough. In their day, everyone my parents age had Marushkas decorating the walls of their dorms, apartments, etc. So when I found an original Marimekko "Heina" print from 1957 by Maija Isola at Goodwill in Lansing, Michigan for $10, I almost peed my pants! Worth at least $500, it's the most valuable and beautiful piece in my collection. I love love love it. I can't get enough of either brand.

Why am I babbling on about these old companies? Well, when I was browsing my Instagram feed last week, I came across this gorgeous dress I'm sporting in these pictures. A Marimekko tribute collection from H&M. I just had to have it! It's so bright and beautiful and perfect for spring and summer.

Now I can't figure out if the design of the pattern is one done by Maija herself, I'm still super stoked to have a piece of apparel to match my collection of wall art, fabric, dishes, and all other things Marimekko and Marushka in my home.

Aside from all the excitement of moving, one thing I'm really looking forward to is unpacking my Marimekko fabric! I can't wait until we get settled in our new home in Jacksonville, and I'll finally be able to get out my remnants I've been saving for throw pillows in the living room to match my Heina.

I wish I could afford more Marimekko fabric (it's around $50/yard!) and could make myself a wardrobe of clothes! Couches upholstered in their fabric! Tea towels with flowers. Curtains with hay. Their site sells breathtaking outfits with the most amazing cuts, but are a wee bit out of my price range, and break my rule of "new" clothing. Someday soon, I'm going to have to allow for some new clothes again. In the meantime, I'm still going strong on my "second hand only" motto.

Maija Isola was the main textile designer for Marimekko, her bold prints popular in the 60s. The look of Marimekko is still mostly taken from the work of this legendary Finnish designer. She is undisuputeedly the "look" of Marimekko.

When Matt and I were visiting New York this past January, we were somewhere between Chelsea and Gramercy, we found the Flatiron building. I turned around and BAM! There was a Marimekko store! I'd never been to one of their actual locations. I dragged Matt into the store and dreamed of a home covered in Marimekko fabric. It was wonderful!

Outfit details:

Marimekko dress from H&M.

Purse: Jen Ell's Revenge custom handbag.

Vintage shoes.

Vintage Casio watch.

Introducing Sally Ann's Closet

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:07:00 +0000

It's addicting. IG shops. Have you seen them? They're an online store on the iPhone and Andriod app called Instagram. So easy and fun. You look through your friends cute cat pictures, and bam! You find a super cute dress on the cheap. You comment with your PayPal address. Okay the invoice, and within a few days, the dress arrives in your mailbox. It's so incredibly easy and seriously addicting! I love finding gently used clothes on a few of my favorite shops.

While packing up clothes and sifting through the pieces I never wear, I decided it'd be fun to open a closet shop on Instagram. Plus a great way to open up a new revenue stream, since I'll be semi-retiring from bartending soon. Only near mint clothing is listed, and all details are included in the comment section of the listing. Some clothes will be ones I've made, thrifted, bought new, etc. You can check out my shop here or on IG as SallyAnnsCloset. AND everything's 20% off until we move next Saturday, May 25th.

I'll be updating it with more clothes soon, as I pack up my house for our move next weekend to Jacksonville! Lord knows I have sooo many clothes I never wear. I might as well put them out there for someone to enjoy!

Tuesday Tunes - Beware of Darkness - Howl

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Last week, Matt and I got a chance to see this band, Beware of Darkness, at Sky City in downtown Augusta. It's so refreshing to catch up and coming bands, when you know they are right on the cusp of stardom and success. They are an alternative rock band out of LA, and their next tour is opening up for Smashing Pumpkins on their European tour. And tomorrow night, they play on Conan! So be sure to check them out.

The three guys in the band are super nice guys. Matt interviewed them on his radio show earlier in the day, so he was super excited about the show. I thought, "oh great, Matt's dragging me to another rock show that is going to be annoying," since I'm not a fan of most of the music his station plays. I'm a Belle and Sebastian/Bjork kind of girl. And honestly, I was super impressed with these guys. They were great! After the show, they stuck around for a beer with us while Matt picked the bass player's brain on the good and bad parts of touring. You can see more of their music on their Facebook page, their website, and Twitter.

What are your favorite bands right now?

We're moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:37:00 +0000

That's right. Matt and I are moving south, to Jacksonville, Florida. We've been working on our Georgia exit strategy for some time now, and it's finally happening. Our time left in Augusta is less than two weeks. And oh so bittersweet. The past three and a half years here have been truly amazing. We are going to miss this town, but at the same time are so excited for a new life in a bigger city.

This past weekend my friend, Jonathan, and I drove down to Jacksonville for some house hunting. My, oh my, was it a rough day. We saw some real dumps, and I mean dumps. It's amazing how deceiving pictures posted on the internet can be. Above is my "eh how do I be nice to this guy and pretend I like the house" face. No note taking was necessary once we went inside and saw the home.

We also saw some real gems. After driving around using a realtor app, we found the house we'd been longing to find all day. A gorgeous three bedroom with ample storage space, hardwood floors, and a "Florida" room. So cross your fingers or pray for us, that we get accepted and granted the house! EDIT: WE GOT THIS HOUSE! WHOO-HOO!

I cannot wait for the next few weeks and our future. So many exciting things to share with you all very soon. Back to packing! Have a great Monday..

DIY: Shorten a polyester skirt

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:43:00 +0000

So many skirts and so many possibilities. I never rule out a skirt at the thrift store because of it's hem, and neither should you. In less than 30 minutes, you can have a new skirt, at just the length you desire, with just a few simple steps. This tutorial will require hand sewing and basic machine skills. Difficulty level: easy/beginner. Follow along and you'll see how easy it is!

You will need:

chalk hem marker
skirt
needles
scissors or rotary cutter
hand needle
matching thread
seam binding

Start by marking your skirt with a chalk hem marker (not pictured but instructions here). Cut fabric below chalk with enough seam allowance to sew seam binding, I usually cut 1/2" below my mark. But this can be different for everyone. 1+2) Sew seam binding to raw edge of hem. Back stitch when you get to the end. 3) Pin skirt and press. When you press, the chalk marks should be right along the fold. 4) Hand stitch an invisible hem. You will grab ever 3/4"-1" of fabric, catching a little bit of the skirt and come through the seam binding. Press again and voila. New skirt!

This tutorial is something you can use over and over again. Insivible hems always look so much better than a rolled or double folded hem. It's a little bit more work because of the hand sewing, but SO worth every minute.

And I'm sure some of you are saying, that skirt was great before, and I'm sure some of you would opt to leave it be. While I love long maxi skirts, I know me, and I know I'm more likely to wear a skirt above my knees in this type of fabric. Plus, hot weather is already here in Georgia. I can't wait for hot hot heat!

Oh yeah, and my hair is super short now. I'm rocking a men's pompadour. My girlfriend and I shaved the side of my head the other day, and yesterday the rest came off. I still have a good bit on the left side, with an asymetrical women's pompadour look. Now I need to experiment with all kinds of pomade and see which one I like the best. Pretty fun. While I loved my blonde hair, it was breaking too much and I wanted something short and sassy for the hot summer.

Happy Friday, friends! I hope y'all have a great weekend. Wishing you all the best of weather for lovely spring cookouts and outdoor activities with your loved ones. Matt is participating in a Marine Mud Challenge this weekend, and I can't wait to spend tomorrow finishing Shelby's interior!

Braves Country

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

This past weekend Matt and I, along with his best friend from Alabama, attended the Braves games against the Mets. Can you believe it was my first major baseball game?! It was a blast, and we had amazing seats. Enjoy some photos from the game. Unlike most sporting events, I was able to bring in my SLR and take some great shots of the ball players. Oh yeah, and my hair is pink/maroon/apple now.

We even sported Braves apparel. Go Braves! I've never been one for athletics, but being with Matt has opened up more sports I'd never otherwise enjoy. Golf, football, and baseball. I will say, before Matt, I sat down and watched the entire Ken Burns documentary on baseball, and I love the sport. I'm just not going to games by myself or initiating the process. And I've attended a handful of minor league games. Matt's a crazy Braves fan, and he splurged on some amazing seats behind home plate. It was insane how the perspective of the field and it's size changed from where we were sitting.

And they won! Mets, 4, Braves 9. What a game. We had so much fun eating park food, sipping on a few beers, and loving baseball. We definitely have to do this again soon.

Hope y'all are enjoying your week. I'm busy, busy, busy. Special announcement coming soon. Betcha can't wait to hear what it is.....!!?

DIY: How to tailor high waisted jeans

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:42:00 +0000

Raise your hand if you buy jeans and you think they fit, but you're always pulling them up to stay around your waist. You think you don't need a belt, but something's just missing with the fit. Chances are you need to tailor them.

It's inevitable that I have to do this alteration to my high waisted jeans I find at the thrift store. Maybe I just have too much behind for typical sizing, but jeans that "fit" are always way too big in my waist. Sure, I could wear a belt, but then it's all bunched up and just doesn't look right. I want to be able to wear a cropped top and not have to worry about how the jeans look around my waist.

This tutorial can be done by the intermediate seamstress. You just need a few things:

jeans
pliers
heavy duty needle for your sewing machine
matching thread
straight pins (optional)
seam gauge or ruler
scissors
razor blade or seam ripper

Start by trying on your jeans and get an idea of where they need to be taken in. Measure how much needs to come off the waistband. 1) Remove the waistband and belt loops from 4 inches on either side of the side seams. 2) This is the hardest part of the whole tutorial, so don't get frustrated when you have to remove the grommets. I always use pliers. Depending on how much you have to tailor the jeans, you can also cut out the grommet very carefully. 3. Starting at the bottom of the pocket, take in the side seams the desired amount. Make sure this seams is smooth like you'd sew a dart, so it looks natural. Try on your jeans (pictured below) and make sure they fit in the hips. 4) Trim excess fabric, cut about 1/4-12" from seam. Zig zag raw edges.

If you haven't measured properly, the worst thing you can do is finish your jeans before trying them on again. Say you get all the way done sewing them, and you took them in an extra 1/2". High waisted jeans that fit perfectly are so close to jeans that are just a bit too tight. Especially if you're sewing thrift store jeans with no stretch! Newer jeans like this you'd buy at the mall have a little bit of stretch to them, so they are more forgiving. Be sure you try them on if they do not stretch! There is nothing more uncomfortable them jeans with a high waist that are too tight!

5) With the raw edges forward, top stitch along the pocket side of the side seams. Back stitch at the end of the stitch for a more professional look. 6) Now to take in the waistband. Take your measurement of how much you want to take in the waist and cut it in half. Using this measurement, on each side of the waistband, fold the right sides together and sew. Say you want to take the pants in 3". Take in each side of the waistband 1 1/2". 7) Trim excess fabric and press open. 8) Top stitch along waistband to reattach to the jeans. Replicate the look of the previous stitching so your alteration isn't noticeable. Trim threads!

No more flabby waist!

For size reference. These jeans were a 10P (petite, notice the cropped look on the legs), and I'm usually a size 4-6. Since there were from the 90s, the 10 translates to a size 8 or so in today's sizing, so I took the waist down a size or two. They fit so much better. The fabric is a little thicker than I'd like, so they tend to bunch up a bit. Not bad for a $1 pair of jeans though!

Questions? Comments!? I'd love to hear from you.
Do you alter your jeans to fit you perfectly?

Shelby Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:44:00 +0000

Here we are, in the last few weeks of working on Shelby. It's finally here. Just a few more long work days left before she is finished. The end is closer and will be here before we know it.

Since we last updated you all on her progress, we've made some difficult but necessary decisions. After weighing the pros and cons with our solar panels, we've decided to return them. It's one thing after another with the company that made them, problems upon problems. We asked ourselves, what happens a year from now, when they break, and we have to take apart the wall to remove them and return them, and what if they don't accept the return with our warranty. I wouldn't put it past this company to screw us over again in the future.

I'm boxing up the panels and all the accessories and attempting to return them this week. Cross your fingers for me, as these people are so nasty. If I can't get my cash back, which comes to around $275, I'll be investing in some more tools or a tool cabinet, and getting more supplies for Shelby.

The interior will also be done in the next week. I'm finishing putting up the rest of the wood and sconces in the next few days, then sanding and staining, and then up with the fixtures. We've decided to power the interior with a deep cycle battery. It should keep the 60 watt bulbs lit for a very long time, and we'll also install an outlet for a cell phone/iPad charger.

Hope you all had a great weekend! I'm headed outside to start work for the day. My friend is cutting more wood for the walls soon, and I'm using up every last piece before I head to his shop. Sconces here I come!

DIY Boy's Bow Tie

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Are you getting married soon and need some cute little boy bow tie for your special day? Or even a cute bow tie for your Sundays at church. If the answer is yes, then this tutorial is for you! It's super easy, and you can use any color. The options are limitless.

My best friend, Sarah, was married two weeks ago, and the boy ties above are worn by her 8 and 12 year old sons, Finlay and Aiden. Matt and I were the best man and maid of honor. It was such a great day! Everything was absolutely perfect.

For one bow tie, you will need:

Two piece of fabric, cut 4"x10''
One piece of fabric 3"x Y (Y=neck measurement. Loosly measure the neck of your little boy, add two-three inches)
One piece of interfacing, 4"x10". Optional if you want a stiffer tie.
One small piece 3"x4"
Matching thread
Hand needle
Scissors
Velcro
Iron
Straight pins

1) Cut out all pieces of fabric. Note: the above picture shows me making two bow ties. 2) Iron interfacing to one piece of bow fabric. 3) Pin two pieces for bow together, right sides together, leaving a small gap along shorter edge. 4) Cut corners. 5) Turn right side out and iron. 6) Sew short ends together. Not pictured: Take small piece 3"x4" and sew lengthwise, right sides together, turn right side out. Sew long strap together, like bias tape, right sides together, to create a long thin tube. Turn right side out. Press. 7) Pin small strip on bow tie. Hand stitch. 8) String strap through bow, using a pen or end of scissors to push it through if necessary. Sew velcro on opposite sides of the ends of the straps. Trim threads.

The boys' ties turned out even better than I expected! And it was the most perfect day. I hope this tutorial finds it's way to some eager sewing hands! It can also be used simply for the bow and more feminine projects like a bow hair clips, headband, etc.

Happy Thursday, friends! Hope you are all enjoying the onset of this gorgeous spring weather. Tomorrow: Shelby update. Stay tuned.

And I'm back...

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0000

It's been a little break since my last post. Apologies. My sister and I drove back to Michigan for a family affair. Here are some Instragram pics from the trip. Today, I've been settling back in after an entire day on the road back to the south. Two wholes days there and back were spent in a car. I can't believe I lived to tell the tale, with the craziness of Rachael and I being together again. While we weren't there for very pleasant circumstances, we made the most of it. And it was nice to see my family. Enjoy some pics and I'll be back later this week with a fun children's DIY and my thrifted scores from my trip!

My sister, Sarah, and little Trey. It's so funny being called "Aunt Sally", and this little boy is the sweetest little thing ever. Sarah thinks he's got me wrapped around his finger, but I can't help it. He's a four eyes like me, and so so cute!

I loved telling the little boys ridiculous stories and tricking them into believing silly things. Kids are the greatest. As soon as we arrived, we caught a few hours of sleep and then had breakfast and drawing time with the 4 and 5 year olds. When Trent tried to draw a picture of me, he used a gray crayon for my hair, and when I asked why he used gray, he picked up the white crayon and exclaimed, "Well I can't use this white crayon on white paper!!" As if it was a huge "DUH, Sally!" Kids say the darndest things.

The mandatory shopping trip to Goodwill with my sisters and mother resulted in some grrrreat finds! Two coats, a few shirts, a dress, this dress, a few shirts. And a miracle almost took place: this size zero dress almost fit me. It was about one inch too small when it came time to zip up. I bought it anyways for a friend. I can't turn up a $5 Ann Taylor dress this cute!

Also, a mumu style 70s dress I bought will make a great DIY project coming soon. It was a hideous floral polyester zipper dress with sleeves. Not as much fabric to work with, like the last dress I made, so I'll probably be making a cute skirt with a fitted waistband.

The four Keiser kids. Rach, me, Mark, and Sarah. I bet you can't guess the age order! Hint: We're in some kind of order as we stand...

Our hotel was on Lake Michigan and I was able to catch just one sunset. Breathtaking as usual... I'll never get over how lucky I was to grow up one mile from this gorgeous body of water. This summer, Matt and I have to make a week long trip back home again!

The birthday girl on Sunday! Sarah hated that sombrero! But she just looks so lovely, doesn't she?

Stealing Mark's soul. He hates having his picture taken hehe.

Okay. Coffee and cleaning and unpacking. Like a mad woman. I'm already one pot down. Happy Tuesday, friends! How was your weekend?

Tuesday Tunes - Xiu Xiu - Fast Car

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:06:00 +0000

Be prepared when you listen to this song. It's not for everyone. It's terribly depressing and very emotional. You will either love it or hate it. I haven't listened to this song in years. Back in college, I was a huge fan of Xiu Xiu; they are weird, eccentric and unlike any other band I've ever listened to.

This song just came on while I'm packing my suitcases, and it just hits you like a ton of bricks. It's brilliantly depressing and sad. I couldn't help but listen to it three times in a row. Then, I went back to the Tracy Chapman version, and back to this.

I'm in a rough spot this week, personal stuff I'd rather not discuss on here. After the explosions yesterday, with family in the marathon, and seeing photos, hearing stories of the child that passed away, it's gotten me quite down today. This song makes me feel okay, okay to be sad.

Enjoy it or hate it. If you hate it, come back to this song when you're sad and you'll get it.

Have a great day, friends. See you in a few days, maybe...

What I Wore: Mumu to Masters DressMasters 2013 at the Augusta National

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:15:00 +0000

Yesterday was the last day of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, and the day Matt and I went out to watch some golf and eat pimento cheese sandwiches. The whole week, the week all Augustans dread more than any other, the city swarms with thousands and thousands of tourists and golf fanatics. It's a madhouse around town. Being the most prestigious sporting event, I love dressing the "country club girl meets Betty Draper meets Good Housekeeping". Last year, I made some plaid bloomer shorts, and this year I wanted to do something a little more.

An exercise in patience, and practice to keep me on my toes, I sewed a dress for myself from a pattern this past week for the first time in probably years. Vogue pattern V8725. A simple lined dress. The trickiest part of this sewing project was cutting out the fabric just right since there was only so much fabric, and it had to be cut out along the vertical pattern of the sailboat print.

Sewing tip #1: Press as you sew! It makes a world of difference and the dart/seams will lay flat. In the above photo, I pressed the bodice darts open, and the side seams open. I also did this for the bodice lining, then sewed them together, matching the side seams and center front, also attaching the straps at this step.

Bodice before skirt is attached. For the lining of this project, I used bed sheets that my friend Sarah gave me. Blue and purple floral, they were a wedding gift to her parents over 30 years ago. I used to use the flat sheet when I had a queen sized bed, but now that we have upgraded to a King, both the fitted full sized sheet, and flat sheet are of no use to us. The flat sheet is in the picnic section of our linen closet, and the fitted sheet in my sewing pile. I just love to reuse old relics from people past, utilizing them in such a way that it makes the garment more meaningful.

Another favorite part of this project: pockets! I love dresses with pockets. When one attends the Masters tournament, there are very strict regulations of what one can bring into the National. No electronic devices of any kind, no cell phones, cameras, and the size restriction on purses is very small. Pockets were super convenient for a little bit of cash, lip balm, and my photo ID.

When sewing pockets, cut one of the lining, and one of the shell fabric. The pockets cut out of the lining are sewn to the skirt front, and pockets cut out of the sailboat/shell fabric are sewn to the skirt backs. This way, passers by see the sailboats and it has a more polished finished look. While pockets add a little more work to sewing a dress, they are very much worth every second. Pattern doesn't have pockets? Find a pattern that does, and with a little bit of planning, it's super easy to add pockets that weren't originally there.

There was one fault with the dress I have to admit, even though I'm sure I don't have to. It drove me nuts that I didn't notice until right before we left the house. When sewing the back slit, sewing the dress and lining together, there was a slight buckle and pucker. It pulled the skirt back up just a hair. This is something that could have been prevented with a mirror behind me, and pinning the fabric together when I was wearing it before sewing the topstitched seam. So close to a perfect job, Sally, so close!

Another fun little detail I planned with the dress: vintage ribbon with carousel horses was used for the seam binding. The invisible hem sealed the deal in making the dress perfect and just fancy enough for Masters. I received so many compliments throughout the day, and caught women here and there talking about my dress as I walked by. Nothing is more flattering than overhearing a positive comment about what you're wearing.

All in all, I'll give myself a B+ overall. What do you think? Do you ever sew for yourself from patterns? Or do you prefer to use your own? I'd love to hear from you!

Full blooms

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:39:00 +0000

Finally. Our gorgeous azalea bushes have bloomed in the yard. Today is the fullest bloom yet, with just a few buds waiting to open. In a week or so most of them will start to fall off, so we have to quickly enjoy their beauty while it lasts. I don't recall if we have these flowering bushes in Michigan; I'm almost positive they wouldn't survive the cold. Today Zeus and I took a moment to snap a few shots of the gorgeous bush and my obnoxiously high bun I'm sporting today.

It's funny how beautiful these beautiful bushes only bloom once a year, and only for a very short while. Makes me wonder if they're worth it? I drive by houses up in "the hill" area of town, all the mansions that line Walton Way, and this week their yards are full of pinks, reds, whites, and it is the most beautiful thing! But most of the year, they're just all green? Wouldn't it be worth it to have a flowering rose bush that blooms a few times a year? Hmmm.. I need to think about these things for my eventual home someday in the far off future.

My new favorite thing. This bun! My hair almost matches the bush in lightness; I am so thrilled! When I Facetimed with my dad the other morning while baking some blueberry pies (yay my dad has an iPad!), he shrieked, "My GOODNESS Sal! Your hair isn't blonde, it's white!" Needless to say, he's not a huge fan of my hair. But what can ya do? He's far, far away, and he can't tell me no. Hehe.

I'm loving the blonde though. It's so different from what I'm used to. Perhaps red will be next when the leaves start to change in the fall. Although blonde is very high maintenance, I'm not minding the new routine too much.

For those of you loving this as much as me, and with long hair: To do this bun, I flip my head upside down and brush it out. Then I gather my hair about three inches from my forehead and voila. Make a bun. I pin back the little whispys hanging out and tuck them on the backside of the bun for a more dramatic effect.

Also, use a good creamy pomade for fly-aways, and and a quick shot of hairspray on the bun.

"HEEEYYY ZEEEUUUUS!" That dummy is so exhausted today from a really long walk and adventure around town. When he's tired, he is not smart. He is obstinate and moody. Restless and whiny. Or sweet and super attentive so I'll take him any way I can get him.

We snuggled for about 10 seconds on the sheet in the yard before he ran away from me to go sit on grass. I never understand him. In the house, he lays on everything nice and clean. Outside, I bring him something to lay on and he prefers the dirt (and sometimes poo) to roll around in. Oh, the inner-working of his mind are something I can't even begin to comprehend!

Also! I made these jeans. Tutorial here. Hope ya'll are having a great Thursday. The weekend is almost here! Hooray. Matt and I head to the Masters on Sunday. I can't wait to see the azaleas at the Augusta National. Last year, they bloomed a month before the tournament, and this year will be perfect!

Are flowers blooming where you are? I've always known April showers bring May flowers. Here it's March showers, April flowers, and that doesn't quite have the same ring...

Change is good

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:20:00 +0000

Sometimes, you just need a change. When I'm stressed out, or my work isn't going well. The "ADD" starts to feel like it's real. Coffee does no good. Days pass and frustration grows. That's when it's time for some massive reorganization. Yesterday, I did a huge makeover to my work room.

With my desk previously in front of a window, the volume on my computer was so much lower when the window was open, and it was driving me bonkers! Plus, pollen season is miserable, and there was yellow dust all over everything on my desk, errrgg even worse! The desk and sewing machine are now where the china cabinet holding all my fabric previously sat. Everything is now in a new place. New place, new mindset!

Like many self-employed, I work from home in a large room, about 20' x 12'. It's the second living room in my large one bedroom apartment. The two rooms are seperated by pocket doors, and it's more like a giant room when the doors are open. It feels great to work in such an open space, but the distractions of being home become daunting sometimes. Two cats begging me to play, a dog always shoving his slobber covered toys on my to throw over and over again. The temptation of Doctor Who and crocheting my afghan. Baking. Cleaning the rest of the house that is always dusty since it was built in 1886.

This week has been rough. That's all I'll say. I'm not quite ready to talk about it on here. Family matters. Rearranging my room has helped clear my head, and it's kind of like my therapy. I'm not the kind of person that loves to clean and reorganize normally. It takes a special day where it's ALL I do that day. And then it'll be slightly messy but still in order for a while.

Today, I'm making a dress from a pattern I've had for years. I need something fancy to wear to Masters when we go on Sunday. I cut up an old mumu and a vintage bed sheet for the lining. The navy blue large dress was covered with little sailboats (And Rachael, when you read this, no, you can't have it! hehe... My sister likes to steal Nautical themed clothes of mine..). The lining is white with blue and purple flowers. It's going to be beautiful. Sometimes, it's nice to sew from a pattern that isn't your own! Post coming soon of the transformation.

This lovely print from Thimble Press is finally up on the wall. In a thrifted mat and frame, it mismatches just right with all the rest of my decor. I love walls of chaos, all kinds of wall hangings, the kind of go together, but you're not quite sure. I always thrive on organized chaos, probably since that's what my brain constantly feels like. My favorite was the wall at my previous apartment that lined the stairway entrance. Everything hung straight, but in no particular pattern or order. They just fit. My sister has the same thing going on in her apartment, and it's lovely.

This print is one of my new favorites. A friend of mine, who just turned 60, copied this from a print his mother bought in an airport in Iceland in the 50s. It's absolutely breathtaking. I wish I could steal the original or get a better copy of the original drawing. For now, this will do quite nicely. The pencil detail is so beautiful.

Zeus approves of the new room. I think. Or he's pouting. I can't tell these days. He's been super moody since Matt is working long hours. Poor dog misses his papa. I can only do so much, since he loves Matt so much more than me. I've made an extra effort to get him out to parks and for walks around town. Socializing him to distract him from little papa time.

And lastly, my Little Things Studio print. Again, in a thrifted frame that accents the print just right. I still have to frame and hang a few more prints from Little Things Studio and Thimblepress. Check out these ladies sites. Their work is so fantastic!

Tuesday Tunes - The Postal Service... 10 years later

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:45:00 +0000

It seems like just yesterday I was in my dad's basement, on the computer, headphones on head, playing my burned copy of Give Up a friend burned for me with other Death Cab songs on it. I'd play Nothing Better over and over and over. Shortly afterwards, I went to our local Best Buy and purchased my first Death Cab For Cutie album, You Can Play These Songs With Chords.

Bring on Sally's love affair with all things Ben Gibbard. Shortly after, I discovered The Photo Album and I started college. I quickly owned their entire back catalogue of albums, EPs and low-fi recordings. That fall, my roommate and I saw Death Cab during my first semester at Michigan State, with about 200 other people. I was IN LOVE! I even became a super nerd in college and loved the album that inspired the project, Life Is Full Of Possibilities from Dntel.

And that all started 10 years ago. Can you believe it?

Give Up is one of the best pop albums I have ever heard, and I don't think anything will ever fill that space in my musical heart as this album does. It's perfect. Romantic, sad, emotional, beautiful, depressing, hopeful, and happy. All at the same time.

My musical mentor and role model, Bob Boilen of NPR's All Songs Considered released this video and article today, above. Today, Give Up is being re-released, a special 10 year edition. I'm so tempted to buy it on vinyl when it is released today! Today! Agh has it really been 10 years. It's going to be so strange in another 10 years when it is still in my music rotation.

Thank you Jimmy and Ben, for such an amazing piece of music. You forever changed me. I love you.

Free Art Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Sally Ann) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:38:00 +0000

Local artists in my city of Augusta, Georgia have teamed up to create a great activity to get local people excited about the local art scene. It's called Free Art Friday. Following other cities that have started their own chapters, and through social networking, FAF is bringing together locals to create a new kind of scavenger hunt. This past Friday, I took part and created my piece of art to hide for someone to find.

So here's what happens on Free Art Friday here in Augusta. Head on over to a local gallery that has wood cutouts for artists to "art" on. Paint, draw, collage, whatever your medium may be. I embroidered a needle and thread with a little spool of thread on an old dress sleeve and then used elastic to create a type of cover on the wood. If you look closely, it has my signiture in the thread, an "S" and "A" for Sally Ann.

Once you create and hide your art, you, the artist, posts a picture of your work, with a suggestion to where it's hidden, and locals can come and find it! I hid my piece in a tree that lines Broad Street on the 1100 block. Since these trees line many blocks of Broad, I posted a nonspecific picture, letting followers know it was in one of these types of trees.

On the back of your work, be sure to include artist's twitter name, Facebook page, website, etc, so the finder can look you up and see your work. Include "Free Art Friday" and their website. Don't live locally? Start a FAF in your town!

Not only was it a good excuse for me to exercise my own creativity, and work on some embroidery amongst all the sewing and renovations I've been doing lately, but it let me have my own little adventure. Got my wheels turning, brain working, and then allowed Zeus and I to have an afternoon date before dress rehearsal on Friday. And there's nothing he loves more than smelling each and every tree on Broad Street!

Participating in FAF is something I plan on doing every Friday here in Augusta. I had such a blast!

Does your city/town have a similar event to get locals involved in the art scene? I'd love to hear about it.