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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

It's time to Occupy your America

Boots & Barefeet is on a temporary hiatus due to:





View a live stream of OWS here:

Join your community, get involved. Find the Occupy closest to you.


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Basement Bliss


I think this photo comparison makes perfect sense. 



On Saturday I had the whole day to myself and though I severely missed Sage and Kylee I choose to look at the positive side and get to creating. It was hard, really. Without work and Sage rousing me from bed I was able to sleep in late and wallow around wayyyy to much. I made a playlist and some tea. I finally went down to the basement in the early afternoon after enough procrastination enabled me to do so. It's not like I don't LOVE to be down there. It's more that when I go down to the valley below I get so overwhelmed with the possibilities and potential within myself it's so confounding. I look at it like this picture to the right. Pretty psychedelic, no? I found this gem in the real wide world- at the park- on the side the Little Tykes jungle gym. That's right, playground equipment.  Who would have thought, right? Amongst all of the normalcy of an everyday playground I found this amazing picture! That's how I feel like creating down there. I expect to go down there with an ordinary idea and when I start to explore I find myself relishing in the imaginative ninches' of my mind. Inevitably, I find myself snipping the last thread to a new item that I never imagined making in the first place.


Like this shirt:



Kylee found this shirt for Sage at a thrift store over the weekend. Even though it has a hole we decided it was a wise purchase. The simple decision was mostly biased by our love of owls and decided by the fact that it was less than a dollar. Kylee handed it to me to patch and boy did I ever. I saw the playground and found the hidden beauty. I not only patched the hole with a brown fabric, I was able 
to create a whole new design with thanks to my extraordinary new tool. Simple as it may seem this handy little rotary cutter has shaved an abundance of time off of my projects. If somehow your behind the curve like me and haven't purchased one of these bad girls I completely recommend them.  
One thing I found, however is  that when cutting out circles and/or curved edges that it really cuts up your mat. Exibit A: to the top picture. Cutting in straight lines doesn't do anything to the  $10 mat but I really carved it  up when  I was cutting stacks of fabric into circles for my  yet to be debuted vintage pomp flower hair clips.     Not that I am the kind of person to fret over a cut-up cutting mat. That'd be ridiculous.

Here's the pomps I've been working on: 

They're really fun to make, and with the fabric and button choices being all my decision I really do feel like I put the character into every single piece.
And Sage's shirt? 
She loved it :

Some other head wear I've been working on that I've YET to list.
    



Listing is by far the hardest thing to get done. Serously. I've have a pile of goodies that need to list and haven't gotten around to putting them up. Two days ago Kylee and I took the pictures with every good intention of getting them listed. Instead we both have felt under the weather for the last three days nursing ourselves on love, good food,  United States of Tara (which is incredibly addictive, by the by) and even an unschooling day with Sage where we took Route 66 from Oklahoma City to Tulsa stopping at historical landmarks and lakes and parks along the way. 
I also learned how to cable knit! I'm moving on up the beanpole with my knitting techniques.  In the process of learning how to cable knit which takes three needles I learned the purl stitch. The purl stitch turns out to be incredibly easy! You just pull the yarn to the front and go right to left into the loop, crossing over the front of your work. It's like doing the knit stitch upside down. Youtube really helped me with this. I found that tutorial videos are extremely helpful. The books I got from the library looked like gibberish knitting language and we're too advanced to me. The cable knitted piece to your right is a winter cowl I'm working on. I'm very proud of it. 
Truth is, I've been so into Kylee and Sage and myself lately that It's been a week (last Thursday) since I've started to write this blog and I'm just now finishing it. I've even made a list of things to write about. Took pictures. In turn I really got onto myself about not getting it done. I also have been really hard on myself about not listing those items. What I really know, and what Kylee helps me understand, is that my procrastination is only a result of me living my life. And I really LOVE my life. My lady. My monster. I'm excited about everywhere we're going. I feel it all. And plus- Boots & Barefeet has had their first sale. These adorable cups are sold to new family up in the North-East. Everything, no matter the amount of procrastination, waiting, putting-off is possible with enough love. Beautiful things happen with consciousness.  I believe that with all of my heart. It's not necessary to put so much pressure on ourselves, ladies & gents. Routines are great and structure is a good measure for success. 
But...
When the pasta pot boils you have to remember the three kisses. That's the important part. That's the thankful part. The part that slows the boiling to a simmer. Don't forget the kisses.


Lovin' you family,
Barefeet

P.S. I found a pair of boots in a thrift store. My first pair of boots. I feel empowered when I wear them.

"You go girl"- Barefeet









Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Return to Splendor

This weekend was fantastic. Thank you to all of our Okla-homies who have joined in our extended adventures.

Well, Labor Day weekend is over, ladies and germs. That means back to work, back to school, back to routine and schedules. No fretting! It must be done! 

I've found, however, this doesn't have to mean that all of your responsibilities have to be so daunting. Following a self-made regimented but flexible schedule is what I plan on utilizing on my Monday-Friday B&B days. I figure, with enough routine in my day, the lag time between off time and workshop time will be much less significant. Such activities include: Showering, opening the windows, making the beds, lighting incense and other small but important tasks to get me in the mode to create. Such fertile headspace is necessary!

I FINALLY plugged in my sewing machine. As Kylee mentioned, our creative space is in the basement . This means I'm susceptible to plugging in my electric things using one plug that I have to climb over the dryer to reach. So, anyway, it's been a while since I took out my handy dandy sewing machine. I surprised when I plugged in the bad girl nothing was wrong like for instance the bulb wasn't burnt out or the tension was messed up beyond belief. In all actuality, everything was perfect. 

So, in experimentation I sew sew sewed away!







You can view the listing HERE

Also, I found the most adorable little DIY today making itsy-bitsy polaroid magnets!


Aren't they adorable??


Junip has been echoing up and down the stairs all morning. Maybe you recognize the voice? That's right chick-a-dees and rock-a-doos, that's The Grand and Splendid Jose Gonzalez himself.

I wish all of you the best of luck in re-finding your own giving-evolving-self-loving routine.

Tomorrow I will continue with mine. A generous return to splendor. 
Up next: Knitted flower hair pins. How lovely-autumn warm-socks breezy-day of us.

Lovin' you family,
Barefeet

do what you can, with what you have, where you are

\


aaand welcome back folks


after a long eventful weekend, all of us here at 
Boots and Barefeet are back to the ol' grind...
Sage is back to school, and we are back to 
crafting and creating! 
This morning Jess (barefeet) and I have been 
cleaning up some old vintage items that we 
thrifted, knitting more headbands, and sewing 
the finishing pieces to the first headband set to 
premiere on our etsy page! It is an eventful morning to 
get back into the swing of things.





our holiday weekend was 
wonderful!



filled with many adventures and explorations
we stayed a few days on our dear friend, Jason's farm.
went to an outdoor wedding with a veggie potluck and danced the night away
and finally, we went hiking at Red Rock Canyon
OH, and a very exciting accomplishment for 
myself!
I finished my first knitting project located in the right 
hand section of this page... which I am very proud of, 

flaws and all!

















some 
    evidence 
            from 
                  this  
                      weekend...









creative juices are a' flowin' today here in the cottage, we made a yummy fresh dinner consisting of mozzarella cheese, sun dried tomatoes, basil, spinach, and pesto on ciabatta bread.. mmm mmm good. 


On a side note, Sage has been doing wonderful at school, her listening skills are getting much better. So, we went to a local cafe and cupcake place this evening called cuppies and joe to treat her to a super special surprise.
After the cupcakes and the giggly energy filled with joyful laughter spilling all over the place, we read a couple of Tommy De Paula books (my favorite being Strega Nona), and sent the Sageums Munchkin to slumberland. 





We found this tree this weekend at Red Rock Canyon
it was climbing up the mountain. 
such strength.





"I will dance and sway while you dream away."
-the tallest man on earth
(these lyrics always remind me of my lovely lady)





love and light to all you beauties.
-boots.



Sunday, September 4, 2011

Humble pie, ego and free will

"When ego is lost, limit is lost. You become infinite, kind, beautiful."

This is what was on my tea bag as I was furiously attempting to make this blog 'perfect'. I attempted to make it look more 'professional', more flowing. It ended up taking over, this endeavor to make this blog perfect. Turns out, with a few consults from Kylee, the original was more agreeable than anything I conjured up. I photo edited, configured resolution, sized borders,  seperated layers, photo hunted but something was always off. Go figure. I ate my slice of humble pie.

I did make up this simple but lovely banner for the Etsy store:


I used
Picnik: photo editing awesomeness
It's a wonderful too. Very simple to use with little photo editing experience and it's online! Nothing to download. It helped me a lot. There was a few things I couldn't do using picnik but it served its purpose well. I recommend it.

After working two doubles, Kylee, Sage and I hit Michaels before going out to the country to spend some time with our friend Jason on his farm. We bought a bunch of yarn- good fall colors, grays and greens, vintage-couch yellow. Later in our weekend we made another trip to Joanne Fabrics and got 6-7 more spools. We're set up for the season!

My highlight of the weekend was watching Kylee and Sage ride CJ, one of Jason's horses. Kylee's been wanting to ride a horse for months now. I'm so so pleased that she FINALLY got to ride one. And Sage loved riding as well but we retreated early, it was so hot! Here are a few pictures from our weekend.
(click to enlarge)












I was able to experiment with different sorts of yarn, to pay attention to the texture and bulk. I made a Sage-sized headband that really is something neat. Kylee also finished her first knitting project so KUDOS to KYLEE! I have some steamy ideas floating around in my head for the upcoming week.  The record heat we've had in Oklahoma for the past couple months has currently subdued and we were able to open the windows and get some cleaning done. I hope everyone has a wonderful labor day weekend, enjoy your extra day!

"You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help him find it within himself." -Galileo




Tuesday, August 30, 2011

forever is possibles

Gettin' the hang of it...
A few words that sum up the day: 

sleepless

thrifty 

scrap material

patience 

yoga

breakfast for dinner

For me, the day started as a typical day here at the Holland-Hernandez abode, also known as the H&H cottage, which I just made up on the spot. Sage was sent to school with farewells and kisses, I (kylee aka boots) headed off to one of my many women or gender studies courses, and Jess (aka barefeet) went down to the basement for another morning of crafting and sewing in our newly remodeled basement- which by the way I wish I had a before and after picture of! We are not nearly finished with the transformation of the basement here at 425, but Jess and I have made huge steps. We live in an 8plex apartment type home, with a shared basement which no one had declared theirs or even stored things in, and there was tons of not- in- use space which was covered in dust and cobwebs. We decided this was to be our crafting space, and it couldn't be more perfect! We will get pictures up as soon as it starts to look even more snazzy. 

further events unfolding.

these. 
are our chairs in our living-bed of a room.

we found an even more amazing chair to replace the one on the right (and move it to our downstairs crafting facility). The new chair is brown, gray, dark tweed and beautiful. 
Best Part? 10 dollars.

I was able to purchase a new, unbelievable rocking chair, and upwards of fifteen crafting t-shirts for under 20 dollars! 

Sage is in trouble again at school, and I say that in the best possible way, she is not by any means a bad child. I am beginning to think all of her behavior problems at school only have to do with her running her mouth all of the time, she always has something to say. 
As any four year old should.
And I hope that she really never stops all of the gibber gabber that comes out of her mouth, it really gives you a whole new take on the english language with the new phrasing and word choices that Sage uses. 
Really gets my creative juices flowing. 


so naturally, 
Sage's punishment is...
Yoga all evening.
And I know what you are thinking, Punishment?! Yoga?!
And well, you are right, it wasn't exactly a punishment as much as it was something to get her back centered into 
behaving better and listening, and, well, 
Ill tell you if it works tomorrow..


Sage said probably the cutest thing ever when we sat down to write her teacher to tell her that Sage is going to act better tomorrow and listen. In the letter that Sage was dictating to me, she says at the end, 
"forever is possibles- Sage"
It was just then that phrase became my life slogan. 
The rest of the evening was calm and relaxed. Jessica and I sat in our rocking chairs and kitted socks.... Well, that is what we would like to knit, if we could ever get the hang of it. I finished a few more stitches than I achieved last night. And, I made Jess listen to my all time favorite guilty pleasure of a singer, Bette Midler, as we sat... knitting... And then I felt really hallmark-y. 


I will leave you with a collage of a few things that make me smile, in hopes that they will brighten your day (or night), as well. 









and remember, 
   forever is 
         possibles.



And a little song to send you off...






love Always, 
Boots.

The ball is rolling, let the listing commence.

Last night, while Kylee and I were (re)learning to knit I somehow, while trying to make Sage a necklace ended up making this:

My knit was simple. I casted on 50 stitches, knit a row and then casted off. It was an experiment, really. Like I said, I was trying to make a necklace. I have 4 or 5 more buttons like this one, to adorn in front of the knitted flower. I plan to secure a bobby pin for a charming hair pin. Soon to be in the shop.

 This morning while driving home from work I saw the most beautiful beaming sun rays. I tried to capture the view. The rays of light scaled across the sky like the universe floofed a big sheet of light on top of the earth while making the bed. It was a good omen, a day of productivity was in bloom.

Speaking of productivity:
we have our first listing in the store <3

  
These fetching pillows are up for grabs with twenty-five cent shipping!

So, we've got  a Facebook. We've got our Etsy Account.
My mission today:
knitting
listing
sewing
drinking hot tea
while listening to this album:


Shake your sultry groove thing, Creative Spirit.

Lovin' you family

-Barefeet