Sunday, December 27, 2009

Makes me laugh, and smile for this does not apply to me. Sorry to whom it does. Rethink. Reevaluate. Live. Love.


crafted by Owly Shadow Puppets. check out their Etsy site.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

why hello, smiles.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I'd like to become Zooey and leave those 500 days of Summer.
I'm making a (shit) list, and checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Today Allyson is wising up.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

all the same.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I know what's on my Christmas wishlist.

Who said the Victorians were prudes?

Monday, December 7, 2009

Missing you, Portland.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

"I drove all night,
to get to you.
Is that alright?
I drove all night."
-Celine Dion

This basically sums up my Monday evening. Drove all night, only to arrive in Portland at 5am, waking Andrea up from her dream-filled slumber. My friend Andrea, who is basically my sister because I've known her my entire life, recently moved to Portland and I've missed her like the dickens. I had never been to Portland before and thought that Thanksgiving break would be the right time for a visit. Wanting to spend the least amount of money possible for transit up there, I looked into rideshares on Craigslist. Found a couple from Portland heading back home on Monday which was the day I wanted to head out anyways. They already had two others riding with them, but said I was welcome to squeeze in the back. The only other alternatives were a $200 flight or 18 hour train ride. Rideshare please!

We ended up heading out a bit later than expected. Ok, a whole 3 hours later! They already had one of the riders in the car with them, and his name is Don. Don is a total stoner and sounds like it too. Most definitely smoked a fatty bowl prior to the trip because it reeked in there. I don't blame him though - there's nothing else to do during a long road trip in the dark. It made me guarded about the snacks I brought, however, because I knew he'd eat any and all that was offered to him. He only got a few cherry tomatoes and 2 cookies out of me. He was basically a total moron so I did my best to ignore him and his stoner laugh until he was picked up by his grandma in Redding.

Next stop was Concord to pick up yet another Don. Word on the street is that this Don drove his girlfriend's car down from Ashland, OR to his current location and just couldn't get back home. He was stuck. We arrive in Concord and park in a Denny's parking lot, which is where he suggested we meet him. An old Buick finally pulls up alongside our car and a man and woman in their early 60s exit, taking a bag out of the trunk. Perhaps I should back up a bit. The rideshare section on Craigslist is typically used by young twenty-somethings looking to save some money getting from one place to another, or in the case of the driver, to share the cost of gas. Or so I thought. Therefore, I had in my mind an image of Don #2 as a mid-20s dude who just wanted to get the hell out of Concord. I wouldn't blame him. Fast-forward to the Denny's parking lot and the Exit of the Elderly. After stretching I scanned the scene for this mid-twenties dude but alas, he was nowhere to be seen. Then, much to my surprise, the 60 year old man throws his bag in our trunk and heads for the back door of OUR CAR. "So thiiiis is Don #2," I thought. My first rideshare experience just went from weird to weirder.

I have this problem where I expect everyone to be young, hip, and attractive. Needless to say, I'm most always disappointed. So naturally I was extremely thrown off by this elderly ex-hippie who sported a thick mustache and reeked of cigarette smoke. I maintained my side seat by letting him get into the car first. At least I wasn't packed in the middle of two stinkin' hippies.

We got to Redding and Don #1 left us. More room for me, hooray. Picked up something to eat and then headed off for Eugene. The couple, who I guess I could now name Kirk and Abigail, played a few podcasts of This American Life and I fell in love (with the podcast). Learned about the phenomenon that is Hell House. Now that's some freaky, fucked up bullshit. Finally we got to Ashland and dropped Don #2 off at some hippie commune/spa resort/campground/trailer park/shit hole which he calls home. He resides in one of the trailer-looking homes he likes to call his "Craigslist home" seeing as though he constructed it out of various scrap materials picked up from Craigslist ads. Enough said.

Finally, I got the back seat to myself. After listening to a little more This American Life, I sprawled out across the back seat to snooze the rest of the trip away. Woke up periodically to the couple switching between driver-passenger roles and bickering about how terribly she drove. To be honest though, she really was a terrible driver. Got into SW Portland around 5am and crossed the river to SE Portland by way of one of the 7 bridges. Dressed in a pink robe, Andrea opened the door and welcomed me to Portland. Stayed up for a while talking, then crashed.

Woke up the next morning to an overcast sky and cold weather. She got off work early and brought me to a clutter-counseled thrift store I wouldn't hesitate to call my heaven. Got Philly cheese steaks, Voodoo Donuts, and soothed our bulging bellies with some tea at a cute cafe (filled with cute men). I swear, there are so many attractive men up here. Bearded, well-dressed, and tattooed. Perfect. After it got dark (4:45 pm) we went to Andrea's local library branch to pick up some movies. They have an amazing collection of zines you can actually check out! So inspired. Oh boy. Spent the rest of the evening watching movies. I was exhausted from the trip and was thrown off by it having gotten dark that early in the evening.

I'm currently sitting in a Portland cafe called the Southeast Grind, pretending to conduct research but really just drinking tea and blogging. Looking forward to checking out a tattoo shop called Oddball Studios and more thrifting. My friend Ryan's bands Dominant Legs and Girls are playing at the Doug Fir Lounge tonight! Can't wait to hang out with him, hear him play, and meet some of Andrea's new friends.

My current future goals: move to Portland, work as a case manager, be an active member of the extensive crafting community, snag a tattooed hubby who will wear our children in a Baby Bjorn, buy an adorable cottage, and open an Antiques or Kittens, Whatever shop.

Monday, November 16, 2009

I leave for Portland in 12 hours! Can't wait to spend some quality time with Andrea making dream catchers and conducting fire ceremonies in the woods Seattle. Will be back at the end of this month. I love vacations.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

My sad, pathetic loft bed is gone. Too unstable, too noisy, and made me feel like I was 15 again. Spent many hours and a lot of money on building it, not to mention all the great help I got from Karl, Todd, and Howie. But alas, it had to go. Last night Todd and Elbert were amazing enough to help me dismantle all the beams and return my room to that of a 21 year old's (or late 19th Century hoarder). Howie made it possible for me to pick up a beautiful bedframe on Craigslist, and was fantastic at helping me make decisions. I'm stubborn, as some of you may know, and being able to trust his decisions and listen to reason was ridiculously helpful. Somehow I was able to fit everything I own plus the new couch back into my room. After a day like yesterday, all I needed was a solid night's rest in a regular bed. Sleepover-capable and encouraged.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Loft bed's shit. Tearing down in the next couple weeks. I've gotta find a new home. Living room please.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The night Julie Delpy spoke to me, I was bitter, or as I like to call it, realistic. It went like this.

"I was thinking...for me it's better I don't romanticize things as much anymore...It doesn't make me sad, it's just the way it is...I can't deal with the day to day life of a relationship. Yeah, we have, you know, this exciting time together and then he leaves, and I miss him, but at least I'm not dying inside. When someone is always around me, I'm like suffocating!"

"No, wait, you just said that you need to love and be loved..."

"Yeah, but when I do it quickly makes me nauseous! It's a disaster...I mean I'm really happy only when I'm on my own. Even being alone...it's better than...sitting next to a lover and feeling lonely. It's not so easy for me to be all romantic. You start off that way and after you've been screwed over a few times...you...you…you forget about all your delusional ideas and you just take what comes into your life. That's not even true I haven't been...screwed over, I've just had too many blah relationships. They weren't mean, they cared for me, but...there were no real...connection or excitement. At least not from my side...I don't believe in anything that relates to love. I don't feel things for people anymore...Reality and love are almost contradictory for me."

Sunday, November 8, 2009

On Friday I ran over an old lady with my bike.

Let me start from the beginning. I don't like to wear helmets because they make me feel like I'm choking and mess up my hair. So, despite an overwhelming feeling that something bad was going to happen to me on my bike, I rode to my internship on Friday morning without a helmet. Got there and all day I barely had enough time to breathe I was so busy. Headed for home after training, and luckily it wasn't raining anymore. Ok so I'm biking up Market, just a few blocks away from my internship, when I pass through a yellow light. Right as I'm approaching the cross walk, an elderly lady steps into the street and begins walking into the cross walk - without looking! There's no time for me to brake or veer out of her way, so I hit her. I hit an old lady.

She falls to the ground and I off my bike. I spring to my feet, unaware of what happened to me, to check on the lady. Get her onto the sidewalk and unfortunately she doesn't speak any English. I try using universal gestures to see how she fared in the accident, but to no avail. Eventually she gestures for me to leave. I hop on my bike only to find my chain has fallen off. After my failed attempt to put it back on, the amazing group of Latino men that came to our rescue put it on for me (which is followed by an offer to wipe off my grease-covered hands onto one of the guy's jackets).

Bike banged up, Ally banged up, I head back home. Once I take off my long sleeve shirt, I realize that I had skinned my elbow. Not too badly, as I've seen my brothers do worse to themselves, but still bad for how much of a daredevil I'm not. To add to the list is a bruised hip, a bruised side, bruised knee, sore shoulders, bruised elbow, and yes, you guessed it, a sore spot on the ol' noggin. Should have worn that helmet after all. From this accident I've taken two lessons: buy a helmet I don't mind wearing and don't try to race the light. It's just not worth it.


On a more positive note, I've been focusing on cooking lately, and healthy meals at that. Here's a sample of some food I've made this past week.




Ok, so the cookies don't exactly count as healthy.


Tofu scramble with mushrooms, carrots, onions, tomatoes, and red bell peppers

Thursday, November 5, 2009

There's a woman who I see walking past my window a few times a week. Walked by her once, on the street. Always dressed in black. Black shoes, black pants, black jacket, black hair. Red lipstick and thin, thin. I wonder what she's like.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I would like to claim that all the hours I spend watching B.D. Wong work his magic on Law & Order: SVU is not solely for entertainment value but is in fact teaching me how to be an amazing case manager.
I recently realized that I don't need to title my blogs. I'm happy for I don't like titles much.

My roommate Chris and I have been watching True Blood lately and I'm starting to find vampires a little hot. Ok, really hot. Especially Eric Northman, yowza. Yeah, yeah, I've fallen for 2009's vamp craze. So what? At least I'm not reading Twilight. Gaawwwd.

For Halloween I wanted to be Pam from True Blood and I didn't want to spend too much money on the costume, so I decided I'd make the corset myself. Corsets can be pretty costly (upwards of $60) and being that I don't go around wearing corsets on the daily, this wouldn't be the best way to spend my money. I found this amazing website by Kimberley Pope that gives step-by-step instructions (complete with photos, yay!) of how to take measurements of your body, draw the pattern pieces, and assemble the whole thing. The only time I found it challenging was when my stubborn self came out and I tried following my own directions. Fail. Then I'd re-read her clear directions and it would all make sense. Win.

I headed to Fabric Outlet at 2109 Mission St @ 17th St next to Thrift Town for the supplies. This was my shopping list:

•black vinyl (outer corset)
•red satin (lining)
•boning (structure)
•busk (connect front of corset)
•ribbon (lacing)
•eyelets (structure for lacing holes)
•black bias tape (smooth edging)
•black thread for heavy materials
•dot paper (drawing pattern pieces)

I went into the store without an idea of how much fabric I needed, partly because I hadn't taken my measurements yet and partly because this is the first piece of clothing that I've actually made from scratch. Way to be prepared Ally, way to be prepared. Luckily the staff at Fabric Outlet are very helpful and able to answer pretty much any sewing-related question you throw at them. I ended up spending close to $60 on this whole project, but the experience making my own pattern and garment was well worth it. This is what I have to show for some 20 hours of work:


Kimberley's website provides this printable outline to mark out your measurements. One of the best sewing tutorials I've seen.


Beginning of pattern drafting. Drawing the basic outline.


Second step of pattern drafting. Measuring out the pieces (deducting for waist cinching/form-fitting). I'll eventually learn the correct terms. Just wait.


Pattern pieces refined and labeled. Ready to cut!


It's difficult to see the pieces cut out as I put them back on the same shiny fabric for some reason, but - fabric pieces are cut! My first fabric pieces from a pattern, ever. Preeeetty proud.


Red satin fabric pieces sewn together to make lining. Pinned on my dress form to make sure it was properly constructed. Success, so far. Black thing's a mustache. Alright.


This is the finished corset I wore on Halloween. After sewing the lining together, I got rather engrossed in my work and rushed for time, thus the lack of photos between lining and finished product.


Back of corset. Not sure what's going on in this photo.


Boobz.

The most difficult part of this project was sewing the vinyl to the lining for the boning slots. It turns out the lining wasn't long enough to meet the end of the outer part of the corset and the stitching isn't exactly straight. All in all, it turned out well though. It's fully functional, the boning didn't tear any skin, and it looks hot if I do say so myself. Hoping I'll have more opportunities to wear it in the future.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Want more. Won't come. Death sentence. Humans are strange.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

There's a guy across the street dressed in track pants and a leather vest.

Pantry reorganization.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

team loft

A few weeks ago I had a crazy idea to build a loft. I didn't like the existing loft designs out there and it was time to start a new project. I drew up some detailed plans and got my friends Karl and Todd to help me build it. These guys bicycled all the way from Ohio to move here to San Francisco, and they were staying with me so I figured I'd put them to work.


Meet Karl. He has experience building things like cabinets and rock climbing walls. He was useful when it came to, well, pretty much everything about this project.


Meet Todd. He worked construction and is a good source of entertainment when caffeinated. Todd kept Margot company (and out of our hair - literally and figuratively)

Come a few days later, we set off for Home Depot to purchase the supplies. We spent 5 grueling hours selecting straight pieces of lumber, deciding which screws to use, and making jokes about the 'girthiness' of said screws. My friend Howie brought a zipcar to our rescue to bring the supplies back home and, more importantly, to bring us to food. Karl was becoming light-headed and I was getting irritable. Todd, well, he had checked out a while back.

All in all, this project has taken us upwards of 30 hours. I still have to add more support brackets and paint, but just couldn't wait to post these photos. I've learned a lot about carpentry, now own a power sander, and can say I built a loft bed!


Stacks of lumber.


We needed masks for all that sanding we were doing, but all respectable stores were closed at the time so I headed to the dollar store across the street. Surprisingly they had these terrible safety glasses/mask combos for $1.25. Yeah, it's one of those fake dollar stores. These things didn't work so well, clearly. They were meant for people with baby faces, or baby carpenters.


Sanding was fun, but Karl powered through most of it.


Pre-drilling holes so the wood wouldn't crack.


Karl drilling holes.


Margot "helping." Cue Todd to keep Margot distracted.


I couldn't decide whether to stain or paint the wood, but because I bought Douglas Fir ( a soft wood) it didn't look so great. That's what I get for buying cheap lumber.


I love power tools.


Lining up the wood in a very abstruse technique used by many a craftsperson.


Frame up.


I found the perfect couch on Craigslist and made the guys carry it 4 blocks from the person's house. Team break.


Attitude of the century. Probably pissed at me for making them carry it those 4 blocks.


Base boards and side rails up.


I regret not taking a photo of my room prior to building the loft bed. Before and after photos are always so rad to look at, especially when things change entirely. My room before had a peaceful, bedroom vibe, and now with this loft bed and couch it has more of a hangout, college dorm feel. Sometimes when I think about it, I miss having my bed on the floor - not high in the air, giving you that "I could fall off and break an arm" feeling. When it comes down to it though, spending quality time with friends on my couch under the twinkle of flower lights is worth the inconvenience of climbing up a ladder.

Friday, October 23, 2009

She is totally one of those.

dyslexia

I have not been diagnosed with dyslexia, nor will I ever be for the reason that my symptoms are negligible. However, these symptoms are more evident when my brain's exhausted. "Next Thursday at 4pm well works for me"...what???

Allyson, get some rest.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

adulthood

Adulthood means owning your first stereo receiver. On a side note, I'd like to find an Elvis Costello to my Allyson.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

priorities

Don't have time or energy to waste on things one-sided.

PS - Kitty and I safely driving Monty's car on the way to visit grandma.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

grocery overload

Went grocery shopping yesterday and picked up a few too many items. Thank goodness I only had a total of 2 blocks to walk. I can't help that I dislike grocery shopping so much that I only do big trips once or twice a month.

Monday, September 21, 2009

internship, day one

First day of my social work internship. Spent a lot of time with my supervisor; he's awesome, meaning super approachable and helpful. Met one of my clients. Entertaining, this mental health field. Asked tons of questions, learned a bunch of information. Got my own pager and stepped back into the '90s all at once. Was able to call myself a social worker on my quest for medical services. It felt good. Real good. Treated myself to lunch across the street and was able to leave early. Called my mom with the biggest smile on my face that I couldn't quite get rid of. A social worker is what I'm going to be. It's what I'm made to be.

Side note: let things happen as they will.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

nap time

an early happy birthday to you, my dear

A good deal of my friends have been moving out of the area. First there was Andrea, then Amanda, and now Aurora. Makes me wonder who else with an "A" name will be calling to tell me of their plans to relocate. Next I predict it will be Ashley to Texas.

A couple Fridays ago my friend Aurora had a temporary-goodbye & 22nd birthday party with a few friends she had become close to during her three month stint in San Francisco. All were dressed like cupcakes, and the night lead into a rather lengthy game of Never Have I Ever and comical Spin the Bottle. Back to Dartmouth in New Hampshire she goes to finish off her undergraduate work. Looking forward to her move back here next summer. Miss you, lady.

After two rather unsuccessful attempts to simultaneously diminish my large supply of grapefruits and make vegan grapefruit cupcakes, I ventured on to a dessert that would guarantee me success: vegan chocolate cake. Adding some of my homemade strawberry-raspberry jam, fresh raspberries, and frosting in between two layers of vegan chocolate cake, I created a layer cake instead. Unfortunately due to the cake being vegan, it was too moist and, subsequently, the top layer broke in two before arriving to the party. Though the general look of the cake was not up to par with my abilities, it did not, however, defile the taste. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the cake, including the guest of honor. Someone even said it was the best cake they had ever had! Success.

Note to self: buy cake carrying tray. This one I bought at the dollar store is a non-latching pile of crap.




The cake was for the going away part of the shindig, but I wanted to make something for Aurora's birthday. I searched on Craft Gossip for ideas, and found a cute owl stuffed animal to make from the celebration shoppe. Mine turned out a bit different than how it was supposed to look as I made several mistakes while putting the pieces together. I like the way theirs looks a bit better, but that mostly has to do with the color selections. All in all, I am happy with the result only for the fact that Aurora loves it to pieces...and for my first bow, it turned out pretty darn well. I believe she ended up naming it Tiptree.




Mendocino, take two

Booked two rooms at the Blair House Inn for late October. Looking forward to spending the weekend with Andrea, Ashley, Brooke, Colleen, JoAnna, and Nicole. Hope to get more of these this time.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

para escribir

I created this notebook for my good friend Monty's birthday. She's an amazing woman and an ab fab writer. I know she'll put it to good use.

By the way, come to SoCha Cafe on September 22 for an art opening featuring original, hand painted Bollywood movie posters (oil on canvas). Starts at 7pm, and at 7:30pm will be screening Devdas and serving curry spiced popcorn. Come one, come all. Located at 3235 Mission Street @ Valencia.







Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Margot update #3 of many future ones

Gave Margot her first dose of flea meds today. Looks like she parted her hair and covered it in gel for the first day of kindergarten. All in all, she was a good sport. It was a first for me, too, as I've always had my mom apply it to my kitties. Good job, me. Good job, Margot.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

goodbyes

Goodbyes make my heart ache.

This week I must bid adieu to two amazing friends of mine, Amanda and Andrea. Amanda's going off to college at Seattle University and Andrea's making her way up to Portland for a job and clean air.

I made this reversible laptop case for Amanda's going away/birthday present. I can see her, laptop in hand, walking into her favorite, hip Seattle coffee shop ready to start writing some ten page cultural anthro paper. Or perhaps a feminist response to [insert issue here]. Best of luck ladies. Looking forward to visiting you two after you're all settled in your respective homes. Love youuus.





Sunday, August 30, 2009

cocktail time!

I'm trying to bring crafty back into my life, and oh how I've missed it. My sewing skills are sub-par, so in an attempt to refine these skills I made fancy.free cocktail coasters for Jenna's birthday. Sandra Lee would be so proud of me. "Cocktail tiiime! Yummy!"

Makes: 8 cocktail coasters

Material:
● scissors
● 2 1/4 yds fabric
● iron & ironing board
● sewing machine, or needle & thread


Step One: Cut sixteen 5" x 5" squares and iron each.


Margot wanted to help. While utterly adorable, she's nothing but a nuisance.


Step Two: Place two squares together with the correct sides facing inward. Sew around the perimeter of the square, leaving a 1/2" seam. Leave center 2" of one side unsewn.


Step Three: Trim off corners and 1/4" on all sides. Turn fabric inside-out, making sure to make the corners as square (unrounded) as possible.


Step Four: Iron coasters flat.


Step Five: Sew design around border for decoration and to close opening. If no decoration is desired, simply sew a straight line across opening. A design is less distracting and makes it appear as though there is no seam...and let's face it, it's just cuter.


Step Six: Enjoy with desired cocktail and hors d'oeuvres. To make cocktail napkins, which is what I was attempting to do until I made these too small to be napkins, start off with larger squares of fabric. 6" or 7" squares would be appropriate.