In which Miss Bird is charmed by Mr. Bear. Again.

I came home to a lovely surprise after work today.

Mr. Bear: Here's the last part of your Valentine's present!
Me: *gasp* You made me a yarn bell?!
Mr. Bear: I'm glad it's identifiable as such.
Me: Awww, you did arts and crafts for me! I have to charge my camera.
Mr. Bear: I already plugged your camera in.
Me: ... *swoon*

He's pretty much perfect.

Black and White Show

A brief glimpse of pre-show prep for Pasties and Paddles most recent show. Last night was amazing, and it was definitely the best show we've put on yet. The Spotlight really is the perfect venue for us, and couldn't have come along at a better time. I'm so excited for this new chapter in our lives.

The rest of my pre-show pictures can be found here.

The most awesome ring known to man.

Check out this ring! It spins! Seriously go look at the video. I just ordered one for Mr. Bear. It's on a 4-6 week back order, so I doubt it will be making a Valentine's Day appearance, but still. It's freaking AWESOME!

Simple Pleasures

Today was absolutely lovely. I kept my promise to myself to walk downtown from my house as often as possible. I had a refreshing little lunch of miso, cucumber salad, and a veggie roll(my attempts to develop a sushi palate are going well). I perused local quirky shops and found a billfold that perfectly matches my purse and which also has about a bazillion pockets for organization. Score!
I capped the afternoon sipping a mocha and working on my french knot technique while engaged in conversation with Jill Malone about feminism, parenting, travel, and burlesque. I love those quiet days in which nothing especially amazing happens, but lots of small, wonderful interactions add up to make a peaceful, fulfilling, deeply enjoyable afternoon that just sort of fades into a cozy evening.
On an unrelated note, Craftzine linked to the most perfect Valentine's Day card ever for Mr. Bear. He's getting the artificial heart blood pump one. Don't tell him!

My Truly, Truly, Truly Outrageous Loft Bed

We finally finished painting the loft bed and it is lovely! I'm so pleased with it. Mr. Bear was a rockstar. He cut out the stamps with his badass laser, cut out the plexiglass backs, and affixed the stamps to the backs(I was otherwise occupied with important knitting). He also helped me reach the tall places on the bed. And all while suffering through a marathon of season one of Jem and The Holograms that I had playing on my laptop(and which you can see in the background of the last picture) that annoyed him to no end, I'm sure. He's a trooper. As you can see, the silhouettes inside the frames are birds and bears. Of course.
Once the craftroom is completed, I'll post some before and after pictures, by which I'm sure at least I will be amazed.

Conversations

Mr. Bear: I spent the weekend building a loft bed for my girlfriend's craft room.
Mr. Bear's coworker: Oh? That's cool. Does she sew? I sew all my own clothes, see?
Mr. Bear: Is that embroidery? Nice. I want to get my girlfriend an embroidery machine.
Mr. Bear's coworker: (pause) Wow, it must be serious!

Evolution of a Loft Bed

Successfully painted, the bed has taken up residence in the craft/guest room. Having never slept on a top bunk, I was a little wary of it at first, but Mr. Bear, having grown up with a bunk bed, assures me it is quite sturdy. In my determination to cheese up the place I hung some red and white lights under the bed, soon to be joined by a pair of large red maribou-trimmed foamboard hearts from last year's Valentine show. 'Cause I secretly want to live in a Vegas cabaret.