dog days of summer

ah, july. my least favorite month. mostly because it's long and it's so stinkin' hot. we're only 11 days in, and at least 9 of them have been in the 90's with super high humidity too. i can handle the heat, it's the humidity that gets me. and my hair. it's times like this i just want to chop it all off. it's really dark, thick and hangs to the middle of my back. and currently needs a trim. but anyway, i wear it back all the time but there's still so much attached to my head, it feels like i'm wearing a knit cap year round. in the winter, it's lovely. plus, the humidity makes it poofy, so it almost doubles. first world problems, i know.

sleeping is also a miserable occurrence in the heat. i live in an old, finicky building. my blow dryer sometimes blows a fuse. i hate to think what an air conditioner would do. so i suffer through. but the worst part is, i like to sleep with my butt covered. i find i'm cooler with my feet out. even in the winter. if i get too hot, the first thing out is my feet. which is why i don't like to wear shoes. ever. flip flops are my best friends in the summer. i'd wear them all the time if i could. but in the winter, my feet get cold when i go outside, so i wear shoes. as soon as i get home, off they come. anyway, back to sleeping. when it's hot, i end up with the sheet all bunched up around my middle and it becomes two or three layers. thus adding to the discomfort. so i think to myself, there has to be an easier way. so today, i made myself a butt blanket. just took a yard of cotton fabric, and hemmed it on all four sides. i figured that should be just enough to cover me and not be overwhelming like a sheet. and of course, it's not so hot today. now i have to wait to try it out. oh well.

another project i've been working on was two aprons for a friend. i used a basic apron pattern and added a ruffle. i'm quite pleased with the way they turned out.

 and there they are! and i figured out how to add pictures!!! how exciting!!

another big check off my to do list was my sister's bridal shower. it was june 29, and a lot of fun, but i'm so glad it's over. it was a lot of work. i made such cute little candle holders and a giant vase of flowers. i didn't take pictures, and i gave them to her future mother in law to use at her second shower. her fiance and family live in western pa and in md, so she gets two showers. but at least they will be put to use and not just sit in my craft room, get in my way and annoy me. her hat was epic though. i didn't get to see it, i got the job of holding it on her head, kinda like with the giant crowns in toddlers and tiaras. one thing i was super proud of was my vases of paper flowers. my boyfriend's best friend is getting re-married, i guess you could say, or vow renewal is better, and his wife made bouquets of paper flowers to use in the ceremony. i helped her put some together, and was totally inspired. of course, i had to make my own, with the help of my mom and older sister. they got so pretty everyone liked them too. i ended up giving a bunch away.

so pretty!!

in the midst of all this, i got word that i will be a vendor at the hamburger fest. i'm uber-excited!!! and trying not to panic. this will be the biggest show by far i have ever done. if i don't sell anything, i'm going to cry. really really hard. but i really don't think that will happen. since i make amiguruimi, i had to make a hamburger. i'm hoping they will be a big hit. i have no idea how many to make though. i plan on making two sizes, one with worsted weight, and one with fine yarn. 

i also plan on making some without faces, and different combinations. like on the smaller one, i left off the cheese. 

this was my double cheeseburger experiment. no face. i'm not sure quite how i feel about it yet though. i'll probably end up making more of the single patties.




i guess that's all for now. i have to get ready for dance practice. we are doing our first luau tomorrow, at hamburg's beach night. so very exciting. of our three dances, i'm sincerely hoping we're not doing our stick dance.

this is my tahitian outfit. everything i'm wearing, i made, except the skirt and necklaces. i just hope the skirt doesn't irritate my legs. i got sunburned last week on the top of my legs. it's mostly healed but still itches. oh well.