Breaking the Gold Mold: 99 Red Birthday Balloons

I've blogged about Betty White a lot over the years.  But today is the icon's -- wait for it -- ninety-ninth birthday!!!  So, I'd be remiss in letting her special day pass without paying a proper tribute.  By all accounts (a.k.a blurbs I've read on the Internet), Ms. White is as sharp as ever, playing word games with her friends while in quarantine.  May we all be so lucky!  That said, I'm proud to pull out this golden oldie of a Betty Brooch that I made from a tee shirt tag ten years ago.  Whoever designed it came up with the crazy cute cartoon; all I did was brush on a few sparkles.  

I also have this handy dandy new book, Golden Rules: Wit and Wisdom of The Golden Girls, which my sister gave me for Christmas.  It features fun illustrations of all four ladies accompanied by fan favorite quotes.  This one from Betty's Rose is about her being an unwitting dunce:

"We were never allowed to wear berets in high school.  It was against the St. Olaf dress code.  They did let me wear a paper cap a lot.  It was long and pointy."  

It certainly isn't the funniest thing that Rose has ever said.  But it does appear on the only two-page spread dedicated to Miami's biggest-hearted bubblehead (with the biggest and best bubble 'do!).  Also, it mentions St. Olaf, which is always a win.  Rose's homespun yarns about America's heartland never fail to crack me up, and I love that Rose has such a rich backstory, however logic-defying, from which to draw.      

Betty, I wish you the biggest, bubbliest, and best of birthdays.  No matter how old you get, you always seem young in spirit.  

I guess she who gets laughed at the most laughs last!

Frights of Fancy: Up in the Hair

 Top: Burlington Coat Factory; Bag: Sleepyville Critters, Zulily

Fabulous Felt Umbrella Barrette

Fabulous Felt Balloons Barrette

Fabulous Felt Kite Barrette

People of the internet, I present to you airheads.  Not the Brendan Fraser movie or the candy or even the gum-snapping ditz who topped your hot fudge sundae with a jalapeno popper instead of a cherry.  I'm talking about these felt barrettes featuring stuff from the sky.  We've got an umbrella, a cluster of balloons, and that Mary Poppins-pleasing classic, a kite.  Or, as I like to think of them, "Under My Umbrella," "99 Red Balloons," and "Let's Go Fly a Kite."  Of the barrettes, the umbrella is my favorite.  Of the songs, it's "99 Red Balloons."   

Speaking of balloons, here's an airborne accessory that I didn't make, worn with something I already posted:

Sweater: Jeanne Pierre, Marshalls; Blouse: Marshalls; Brooch: Napier, Kohl's

I like the looks of hot air balloons (obvi, as my Sleepyille Critters bag is a regular here), but I don't think I'd like to go up in one.  Too dangerous, what with all those angry birds and thunderstorms crashing in out of nowhere.  Instead of being up in the air, I'd rather have balloons up in my hair.  I think Up in the Air alum George Clooney would agree.  Not just because his jet-setting life in that flick made him so unhappy.  But because barrettes would've looked bouffant beautiful in his big Booker hair from "Roseanne." 

That said, the next time you're under an umbrella while also holding a balloon and flying a kite, I hope that you and your 'do have rollicking follicle of a good time.  

And also, that there's no lightning.  Or angry birds.

Eleven Not Quite Red Balloons

About a month ago I received an email from someone who wanted to know if I could paint eleven of my Tiny Up Up and Away Totes for her to give as favors at her son's fourth birthday party.  Having just wrapped my wholesale necklace order, I jumped at the opportunity.  I ordered the paint, purchased the bags, and painted like a fiend after Christmas.

It was with fingers crossed that I shipped the finished favors to Indiana this past Monday.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: custom orders are nerve-wracking.  You just never know if your final product is going to meet your customer's expectations.  I was particularly worried that the bags weren't "identical" enough to each other.  This is always a concern in the handmade world, especially for me, as I draw all of my tote designs freehand.

But thankfully all of my fretting was for naught.  I was happy (and relieved!) to open this email yesterday:

"I received the box today!  The totes are ADORABLE, thank you, thank you, thank you."

Reading that made my day.  What's more, I have two more custom jobs on the horizon.  Both are for felt necklaces, which warms the cockles of my costume-crazy heart.