Butterfly Gold - And Now We Know!

Internets, I have a feeling a Corelle pattern is stalking me. No really!

Remember a few weeks ago, I posted a few plates, and the tea cups?
That yellow-flowery pattern. There were 3 large dinnerish plates, and one saladish sized plate.

Today, I was out and about and found another of the saladish sized plates. Just randomly amongst the plates and bowls and saucers in the Goodwill. Same store I got the other plates in, but still an amazing feat, don't you agree? This is some time later! Same pattern, same size, amazing.

Close up of the pattern, because it really is quite cute. A very silly colour, but I have a feeling it's a 70's pattern, based on the colour alone.

Now, remember I found a Pyrex square dish that had a very similar pattern?

Ya, that one. There is also a Pyrex that I've seen a few different times (and in a few different sizes) that is the exact opposite of this almost.
Never got one, because they were always at the vintage stores, and highly priced.
Well, not so much today.

Seriously, this is almost an exact negative of the Corelle. But it's Pyrex! No, no lid, but I have a lid to another orange piece, that would probably fit, if I was really interested in that.
And when we consider this was 1.99$ instead of at least 5 for the others I've seen (for the same size, even!), I couldn't really pass it up.

I really do like this pattern. If I could keep this up somehow, and end up with more of a set, that would be fantastic! I don't see that happening, but why not try?!

On a completely different note, I also found these tea cups. There were more than two at the store, but only got the two. No need for any more, really.

Very cute. Least to me.

Right now, actually, I've discovered (thanks to Google), that the yellow flowery Corelle pattern is Butterfly Gold and I'm fairly certain that's a good description. Other than the part about how it seems more flowery than butterfly-y to me, but oh well.
And the cups are Strawberry Sunday. And a set of four tea cups is on sale for 10.99$ on eBay right now. While I paid .99$ each for mine!

Gah, yes, I did a quick search and ended up on the Corelle website, with a list of all their discontinued patterns. Which I really ought to bookmark.

xoxo, Jess (who proclaims a love of Pyrex, but apparently is not too brand loyal after all)

Hopefully Back To Regularly Scheduled Programming Shortly!

Dear Internets.
This week has been rough. Heck, the past few weeks have been. It's a tough battle. It's just everything is terrible all at once, when really it's the same situations it's always been. I don't really want to get into the details, but let's suffice to say I haven't been feeling my jolly creative colourful self as of late.
I'm fairly certain it has been showing.
My major goal here, is to keep a happy place, to share happy things. And that only. Because there has to be something that is all good, somewhere, right? Well, other than D, because he is good, but you know what I mean.
However, today I'm taking a break from that, to just say that life is not happy yarn hearts and blankets and vintage Pyrex.
Not lately it hasn't been.
Which is why I'm going to leave you all with this Pinterest link and image, something lovely I found today thanks to the very lovely people I follow over there. I swear, I check Pinterest at least 4 times a day, if not more, and it really is worth it.

Pinterest Link

If only it were that easy...

xoxo, Jess (who's off to enjoy a Mike's Hard Strawberry Lemonade - because she deserves it, dammit!)

Almost Complete Plans

I was in the process of making Valentine's Day, remember Internets?
Well, we are one step closer to completion! All I really need now is the Martinelli's - but I can't get that yet or else we will drink it all before the proper day! Then again, I don't think we would be sad over here if that happened!

Anyway, dear Internets, let me show you how I have been successful.
I did a Ravelry search a few days ago on how to crochet a heart. Yes, I know, shame on me for not knowing how to already. It's just something I've yet to try, really, little decorative hearts. At one point I had a dream of doing a whole bunch in a ton of colours and filling up a jar or bin of sorts with them (small-ish size, you know), but never could think of a good reason to have them/make them. Other than I wanted them!
On Ravelry, I found this afghan square.

Via Here - Ravelry

This of course led me to a Red Heart pattern. Which I downloaded. Red Heart makes decent yarn. I like it, it's decently priced. Their patterns are so/so. But they are free. And you can learn a lot of new things from them, I promise. Oh, yes, it's a whole afghan of 12 heart squares, each different, and can be found here if you are interested. I don't think I'll be making the afghan, but I have so many patterns for things I'll probably never make anyway, why not keep it?

I didn't want a square, though, I wanted an actual heart. Like place-mat sized. But of a heart. And I like granny squares. They are good, and simple, and much faster than single or double crochet. Granted, with the other two you end up with a complete fabric (no holes), but I don't really mind the holes.

I gathered some yarn. Loops & Threads. Which I do believe is a Michael's stores generic yarn. I cannot say that I am correct in that, but I'm pretty sure it's the case. I picked the "Snuggly Wuggly" which is a baby sport yarn that I had in the drawers of doom I showed you a while back. Got out a hook, and got to working. It took two evenings, with half of my attention, but I ended up with something almost heart-shaped.

Yes, I pinned it to the door to take a picture!! It's a pink colour, very hard to describe, kind of fruity in a way. It's called "Soft Red", though, so I really have no clue.

For size comparison, but also so you can get a better idea of what my plan is. Mwa-ha-ha, oh so close now!

It's a rather simple make, though.  If anyone is interested, I would be more than happy to give instructions, but considering I just kind of guessed as a I went and hoped for the best, there are no notes. No worries, though, I didn't forget what I did, which is more often than not the case!

xoxo, Jess (who is rather fond of how this turned out. she was all ready for disappointment, really)

Night Time Adornmentation

Last night, I got my W-2 form in the mail. However, tax returns will not be accepted until the 1st of February. So, I know what I'm doing Friday!
My plan, dear Internets, was to put allllll of  my tax return (however little it will be) into savings except for just enough to buy a sewing machine.
I've been dreaming for a sewing machine for well over a year now (the plan was to get one Christmas of '11, but that did not happen). The time just hasn't been right, there isn't really anywhere to put it (honestly) but I want it anyway. And I'm going to use it, even if it means I have to put it on my non-useful desk and hope all works out in the end.
I will have my sewing machine, gosh darnit!

I, however, am not sure at all which kind to get, so any suggestions would be lovely! Keep in mind, I would prefer cheap and sturdy, I don't need anything terribly fancy, just be able to stitch things up with a faster speed than hand-stitching!

I also have realized, I talk 'bout crochet every so often to you, dear Internets, yet I haven't shown you my most precious creations.
There's two of them.
And they are used everyday.
They are our bed blankets.

 This one was first. It's a giant granny square, and I think it took a little under two months to complete? Something like that, I can't remember exactly, but it was rather quick. This was also (I'm ashamed to say) my first successful granny square. I liked it, decided I'd continue, and then ended up with a blanket. Good deal, right?

This one took 6 weeks. It's a corner-to-corner afghan. I started it in the car when we went to Seattle in August, and continued with it after the trip was over. And ended up with a blanket. I had to do some adjusting, so I wouldn't end up with a square - because the directions are for a square - but I figured out if you get it to be as wide as you want, you just stop increasing, but don't decrease yet, and you end up with a rectangle. It's hard to explain, but if you know the process, it makes sense!

This is the current state of the blankets. We sleep with them every night - very nice especially since it's been so cold of late!

They're both made out of Red Heart "Soft", which can be a bit expensive, but I tried to buy it either on sale, or using the discount at my work (not a yarn store, sadly enough, but we have a small selection, that carries most of these colours). It's a lovely yarn - very soft and toasty - yet still acrylic, so it can be washed and thrown about and no worry about wear.
They are showing signs of love already, though. The yarn is pilling, and the ends are slowly becoming unwoven, but intact they are.
They get much love and (ab)use around here, and I'm rather fond of them indeed.

xoxo, Jess (who really is far too proud of these simple things) (erm, also, our bed is queen-sized - to get an idea of their size)

Orange Deliciousness

Last night, Internets, we had tea. It's D's fault. He asked. Which is silly, considering he had tea when we had lunch. I had no idea he enjoyed it so much!

Now, I have a feeling, a coffee press is not intended to be used for bagged tea. I mean, you could, but defeats the purpose of the press. I had the strange idea to just take it out of the bag and dump it in the bottom. It would work out alright, right?
I was sort of right.
And sort of wrong.

It had floaties. Not of the icky variety, just of the mini-tea-leaf variety. Of which D is not partial. I'm not really either. If that makes us sissies, so be it I suppose!

But I finally got to use my cups! I love the handles on these. And they're very easy to hold, no matter how you try. The shape is perfect. They are just the right size, too, really. A bit small, therefore good for a refill, but not too small to where you drink it too fast. And certainly not too big to where you end up having cold tea.

I had intended to make a little cozy for it before we had tea, but someone decided otherwise. 'tis alright, I suppose.

D even said he likes the cups! Which is amazing, considering most of the things I like that are all vintage-y, he only says are cool because I like them. But he seemed genuine in his liking, so I'll take it as a good sign.

This is D, and he's trying to be fancy (with his pinky-finger out, you see).

I'm so glad, though, I've finally gotten to use those little cups. Now to use the rest of them!

xoxo, Jess (who will probably not be dumping out the tea bags next time)

Hearts and Bubbles and Pink or Something

Internets, there's lots going on about regarding Valentine's Day. My Pinterest is filling up with pink and red and hearts and whatnot. Well, not my account, perhaps, but those of the people I'm following. Even just a search for "Valentines" over there will garnish far too many results.
I don't really participate in Valentine's Day. D has stated he doesn't either (but that conversation will come in later in this story). This is actually (to be entirely honest) my first Valentine's being in a real relationship (especially one in which we're engaged!). So I really don't even know what's called for.
But I decided to make my own Valentine's Day. Yesterday, I decided. Of course while I was working. That's really when I think of some awesome things, when I'm off at work doing the menial things they have me do. So I jotted down  some notes - things to get, how to set it up, all that jazz.
Today, D and I went off to The Dollar Tree. Which is a fabulous place. Well, if you want cheap things, and of a not terribly sturdy quality. Actually, I hadn't been there in quite a long time, but was reminded of it's gloriousness recently thanks to a blog post from A Sort of Fairytale in which she organizes her linen closet with bins and such from the Dollar Store with fabulous results!

Anyway. To the exciting parts.
I haven't collected all of my "props", have you, but as we were looking about, I told D I wanted to "make Valentine's Day" and he was concerned it would include him, and that he doesn't play Valentine's Day.  Well, it doesn't really concern him - other than he will be sharing with me in the delicious things we will have to consume. But again, more 'bout that later.

So far, I've actually got most of what I need.

 Yes, I bought fake flowers. But for a dollar for each, and they're so colourful, and they will never die! I've not gotten a green thumb, and real flowers get awfully expensive, considering they die not soon after you get them home...these can serve purpose for now, and years from now.

 Plastic wine glasses - why yes, yes I will. They also had the reverse colouring in these as well (clear with red hears), but D said he liked these better, so home they came.

 Can't have Valentine's without little chalk-hearts-with-sayings.
Seriously, though,  you can't. It's impossible. I've tried. It's just not right to at least not have one box of these this time of year.
And yes, 1$ for the four pack.

Fake flowers, popped in a half-gallon mason jar. Honestly, I think they're great.

I'm not done yet, no. I plan on creating a little "vignette" of Valentine's...and I still need a bubble beverage of our choice.
Which, is actually this...

Not my Image - Via here

We aren't really drinkers of the alcoholic variety, and this stuff is delicious anyway.

Until the planning is complete...I think I shall leave you Internets with the idea of plotting your own Valentine's. Whether there's a love for the holiday or not, I really do think you should get at least one box of the conversation hearts. It's worth it.

xoxo, Jess (who is off to find the rest of her "props" - or make them!)

Words on Some Paper Folded Up And Cooked

We went and had Chinese food for dinner (which I recommend if you have not done so lately, because it is indeed delicious). And since it was Chinese food, there are fortune cookies.

Oh Internets, we got lovely fortunes tonight.
I will let you guess who's was what.

D picked first, and I'm not exactly sure what the "rules" of Fortune Cookie Choosing are, but I'm fairly certain they are not followed.
But it really did work in our favor in that respect.

xoxo, Jess (who highly recommends the fried shrimp!)