At sea in the summer sunshine
fresh bread maybe even some wine
She has dreams you see
for fish fricassee
While the cat thinks canned tuna is fine.

The Hooters
A new original and prints now available.

But now that I am beginning to grow up I figure it is time to learn to sew. This was the final nudge. I see these cute hoodie/sweater/coats by Katwise. Look how cool she looks.


And I really wanted to make one. But… I need a ton of sweaters, a serger, and lets be honest I needed to know how to use a serger. But does this stop me? NO. I have a bona fide brainstorm! I decide the next best thing is to make a Katwise inspired Hoodie but turn it into a Dogwise Doodie.

A Dogwise Doodie is a hoodie for a dog without the hood and instead has a turtleneck because thats what I have. And isn’t made of sweaters because I only have other fabrics laying around. And isn’t remotely like the Katwise sweater but I still call it that because “Dogwise Doodie” is kinda cute, especially since Pebbles is very wise and likes to dole out fortunes and advice.

And here is how it started. I went to buy sewing stuff. I bought some nice scissors. And I got one of these. Hoping I wouldn’t need it.

*Step one. Cut out strips.

*Step two. Sew strips with no plan. Now this is what I call sewing! La Dee Da!!! I am a seamstress!!! I even found reverse!

*Step three. Perform a fitting. Pebbles is not much help. I decide to cut a shirt down the middle so it fits her better and figure the rest out as I go. I keep sewing strips. I even put ends on some and called them sleeves.

*Step four. Become horrified as the bobbin runs out of thread. And I mean horrified because I don’t remember how to do all of that bobbin business. Truth be told I am using the exact thread that was in the machine and bobbin because I was too scared to try to change it.

*Step five. Find the manual. Look at this happy Bee giving me bobbin and threading directions. He is no help. After some coaxing, begging and threatening, I heard a click as the thread went down in the bobbin area somewhere. I took it as a good sign. Back in business! Sewing is like life. Sometimes threats work.

*Step six. Sewing strips is still fun but when I finish each row I have a few extra threads to cut. Instead of 2, I end up with 3. Sometimes 4. I just tugged those threads off the machine and pretended that was normal.

*Step seven. After a large birdnest size thread ball I admit I have issues below that hood there. I decide to call my Mom. Over the phone I swear I hear her excitement. She is so thrilled to be giving me sewing advice! ha ha! I kinda zoned out on her instructions so I got this guy to help me.

*Step eight. For some reason the machine is working. I have no idea why. And no extra threads. I attached the sleeves and had another fitting. Pebbles is impressed.

But she did say it was tight on her underarms. So I just cut the shirt in half again. And added a racing stripe.

*Step nine. I made some sort of bottom and used the bottom from the cut up shirt for the end of the doodie so I would not have to hem. I hate hemming. Same with the sleeves.

*Step ten. I realize the doodie is kind of ugly and decide I will worry about that tomorrow.
To be continued…

PS (The coolest thing I discovered about making the Dogwise Doodie was it gave me something to do while I wait for the sun to come up. I am such a morning person. But I cannot paint until the sun actually rises. I have no idea why. I have electricity so it’s not that. Just an odd thing. Anyway, this sewing is fun at dark so how nice to have something to do at 4 am besides going to the gym.)

I have been redoing the back yard. At a snails pace really but some progress has been done.
Added a beach… which is so cool.

Fountain…

Still need the grass, palapa tops, and more landscaping. And tikis!

So, I saw some cute tikis at a nursery and the owner said a local man could make me some. I gave her my phone number and asked her to tell him to call me next time he made some. One day I got the call. “Yeah this is Bob. You can pick up your tikis. I live in Guatay.” (Eeks Guatay! The middle of no-where, and famous because this man lives there…

Also famous for being a remote town without laws and random body parts being found on occasion. Ok, a slight exaggeration on the body parts, but they probably just have not been found yet.)

Bob’s directions to his house sounded like a horror film plot. He said, Go to the liquor store, turn left down the road. I live in a cabin. If you get lost ask for Bob…….The Carver. The directions were vague but I guess I could just stop and ask Tiger Man where Bob the Carver lived if I got lost. I began to wonder how fast I could run. As I drove there I went over his directions again in my mind. Turn left on isolated dirt road,

ask for directions if needed,

and you are here….

But what actually happened was I met this nice guy Bob and he gave me these.

and some of this…

and more of this…

After working more than normal I usually like to relax for a day or two. The plan was to lay in bed, eat snacks and enjoy doing nothing. I would watch TV and read. It started out nicely as indulgence is my specialty but next thing you know I was watching Swamp People. When I caught myself beginning the 4th episode of that series I realized it was time to get out of bed and get myself some overalls. I mean why not just wear cutoff overalls everyday? Shoes and shirt optional. The highlight of the show is Theresa, who is Junior’s wife. What a woman. I am very fond of her. She cooks whatever they catch and that is some creative cooking. All of their food is caught from that swamp and she rarely gets to shop the Piggly Wiggly. I heard her saying something about Mud Hen for breakfast but they did not elaborate on that.

One night after Junior finished his dinner he TOLD her to get him some coffee. Well, Theresa was still eating her Swamp Turtle Stew over by herself at the table. And in a Cajun growl she let Junior know she was still eating and that was that. Junior just shut his mouth and shrank down a bit in his chair. I should record that show now that I think about it. Watch a bit of Theresa here. And get a pen and paper because you may want to write down her recipe for Swamp Turtle Stew. I think someone should put Theresa in Martha Stewart’s opening time slot for a hot new cooking show. And I am 100% serious.

http://www.history.com/shows/swamp-people/videos/swamp-stew#swamp-stew

Some of my recipes. Marinated Chicken…

I have been cooking some gourmet food myself lately. Beans. I just really like them.
I cook…
1 can of red beans (rinsed really well because what is that stuff?)
1 small onion
1/2 ish can fire roasted diced tomatoes (and I just waste the rest because I can’t find smaller cans and I’m too lazy to put the rest in a container.)
mushrooms or red peppers or zuccinni if they are easy to grab. If not, eh, no bother.
Brown the onion(and other veggies) in a TINY bit of olive oil. I mean a whisper of oil, you can add a tiny bit of water if you need to.
Add the tomatoes. Stir around.
Add the beans. Cook a few minutes while stirring. Add some some spices.
Then add feta cheese and hot sauce if you like it. I add Cholula.
This tastes great with eggs for breakfast. Or just eat this for breakfast. OK, I realize I am not as creative as Theresa from Swamp People. If you feel like you need to fancy these beans up just add turtle. Or some salad.

Back to my days of indulgence. After getting out of bed I accidentally got hooked on ….. finding my ancestors. I am on ancestry.com nonstop. Oh so interesting! I have started my family tree and cannot believe how cool that site is. It is very helpful and you will realize that complete strangers (but probably somehow related) have done most of your work. I will fill you in with some of my colorful relatives sometime.

Other obsessions:
Traveling. Reading about traveling, reading peoples traveling blogs. Well, this isn’t a new obsession but it is still going strong.
House Hunters International. Along with Big Bang Theory this is my very favorite show.
Dance Moms (Yeah I know, but I can’t stop watching it.)
And I kind of want to buy a house in Hawaii. On the big island. So I look at the homes there everyday and cannot decide on the wet side of the island or the dry side.
And lastly, I am obsessed with Space Bags. I am in love with them really. I redid my closet and space bagged all the clothes I don’t really wear. And I got those cool black velvet hangers. And now I smile when ever look at my closet. Space Bagging is underrated.

And this is him on a bad day…..

Anyway  while I was thinking of names I remembered my alias that I use in order to travel freely and not cause a big stir.  (Fame can be so taxing.)   I thought I would offer my special system I used to create my alias in case you too want to go about unnoticed.  Here is the formula so you can make yours…

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your NEW first name.    Mine is B.    Example: d e B i        B= Doombah

a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dink y
z = zippy

2. There will be two halves of your last name. For the first half  use the second letter of your last name: Mine is U.   Example: hUbbs = Chuckle

a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = sn ickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = g irdle

3. And for the last step. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name: For example: huBbs= boob

a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pan ts
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l =  tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

And now you see how I can go about without causing any attention.

Warmest Blessings,

Doombah Chuckleboob

1. Planters 5 Alarm Chili Peanuts. I have been putting them all over my nonfat cottage cheese, my salads, and soup. And in between this I eat them from the jar and then lick the spicy dust stuff off the palm of my hand like a 4 year old would.

2. Easter Island Giant Statue… Need I say more? I just want this really, really badly.

Ok, so it is $995. That is the rub. Also, I kinda want a few of them. Which really sounds expensive. I have unrealistically decided I just may make them myself. Seems like I could make some huge ones in paper mache, add a bit of chicken wire, and then add concrete. Or? That is where I get stuck. What do you put on the outside? Stucco? If you have any ideas I would love to hear from you.

3. Mermaids. Again.

4. My piano. I am becoming a self-taught pianist. I was a bit down the first day or two when I realized I am not a prodigy. And reading music is HARD. Getting my left hand and right hand to do two different things is like tapping the top of your head with one hand and rubbing a circle on your stomach with the other hand and easing on the gas pedal, while saying the alphabet backwards. In Italian. But, I keep practicing, and after 5 days I can now bust out Jingle Bells. I visualize this Christmas I am going to amaze my guests with first having a piano, and second, playing it. I see myself nonchalantly playing tunes like Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me and Song from a Secret Garden.
And the crowd will go wild.

Big List

1. Come up with 24 garden flag illustrations.
2. Blue Xmas line
3. Finish the forest line Canoodling for crying out loud you’re almost done!
4. Make discs and print sample copies of the Iguanas and Ponies for Timeless
5. Make the doctor appt.
6. Paint my bedroom, my bathroom.
7. Lay down the flagstone and get the little plants for in the cracks.

Here is a sneak Peak on my new Forest Line.(Canoodling.)

And then there is the Do This Today Or Else.

After looking at my lists I try to find something on them I am in the mood to do. These lists are currently whats going on around here. I may have removed a few things to protect the innocent.

Do This Today Or Else

1. Paint: Fox, Owl, Bears, Pine Cones, maybe a woodpecker or something, 2 red sleds, work on fisherman painting.
2. Walk at least 6 miles or bike or gym.
3. Lowes – paint samples for bedroom and get a dishwasher and plants and one pot for the lemon tree.
4. Stupid store and buy some stupid food.
5. Laundry and clean at least one bathroom, vacuum downstairs.
6. Make the doctor appt.

So I decide after reading my lists to go take a bath. I have some really cool bath salts with lemon oil in them. The bath idea probably happened after reading about the lemon tree needing a pot. While in the tub I’m thinking about drawing a fox for the forest line and then I get a brainstorm about a hen with a fox around her neck for a shall. “A Fashion Risk”. Har har! I keep a notebook and tracing paper on the side of my bath tub along with a few magazines and this really warped copy of A Midsummers Night Dream which I can never seem to get into even though one of my goals is to read classic junk. Anyway, I write down that awesome “Fashion Risk” idea to do later and then begin to draw some foxes and bears on my tracing paper. Yes, things get wet and warped if you draw in the bathtub but I’m used to it. I don’t want the bears too realistic but not too cartoony either. Next thing you know I’m drawing an alligator instead because I got offtrack and thought a hen with an alligator purse would be funny.

Out of the tub and I’m painting the alligator in the kitchen. I see a pincher bug. Also known as Earwigs because they go in your ear and eat your brains. This one is just sitting on the floor looking up at me like a jerk. Uhg. The bane of my existence! Every year they come around for about a month. And I begin my war with them. It also tends to start a diet because somehow I always find one in a bowl or like earlier this week in my dishwasher and I vow to never eat or drink anything ever again. This is why I’m getting a new dishwasher. If I ever consume one of those I will just die. I flushed this pincher bug down the toilet. Not to kill him but because I hear they like moisture. ha! Back to work. While the alligator is drying I remember I need to start drawing a few bears. I can’t remember if the ears are on top of their heads or more on the sides so I decide I need to look at some real bear pictures. And maybe a fox. I could go upstairs and look on the internet or I could just save myself a little time and go to the zoo. So next thing you know I’m at the zoo.

San Diego has such an amazing zoo. I don’t know why I don’t loiter there more often.

I got to see the Pandas while they were eating.

I love a good camel. More cute things.

Here is the extremely rare R.O.U.S. Also known as rodent of unusual size.

Oh look a reindeer!!! See right on track for my Blue Xmas line I’m designing.

A baby giraffe. Ahhhhh!

And an interesting fact about male lions. Just like some shady alley cat they spray things. Except they can spray you from 7-10 feet away. Here is a shot of one I took from about 40 feet away. Just in case.

Oh and a bad shot of some bear for my “research”. Looks like the ears are kinda set back. Not on top or the sides really.

Here are some Orangutans.

The highlight of my day today was when I met the most amazing girl. And here is Janey.

This zoo employee here who I met told me Janey was raised in a human family before moving to the zoo. She loves to socialize with the humans. She is beautiful and so intelligent.

I sat on the ground right next to this guy and became mesmerized. I was not 2 feet from her. Lovely. He played games with her through the glass. Pretending to put on chapstick.
She would mimic him. I could have sat with her all day and just hated to leave. Apparently she has a webcam and her own myspace page. Odd thing is I didn’t know she was also an artist. I didn’t know this until I just now googled her name to see if I could learn more about her. And the zoo sells her art and I’m 100% positive I will be buying something of hers when I’m done typing this.

Before I go to bed I try to make the list for the next day. My secret trick is to add things I did to it so I feel like I got more accomplished.

Do This Today Or Else

1. Zoo for research photos…..Check!
2. Paint A Fashion Risk….. Check!

Tomorrow’s list

1. Paint: Fox, Owl, Bears, Pinecones, maybe a woodpecker or something, 2 red sleds, work on fisherman painting.
2. Walk at least 6 miles or bike or gym
3. Lowes – paint samples for bedroom and get a dishwasher and plants and one pot for the lemon tree
4. Stupid store and buy some stupid food
5. Laundry and clean at least on bathroom, vacuum downstairs
6. Make the doctor appt.
]]> http://artblooms.net/2011/06/what-do-i-do-all-day/feed/ 8 http://artblooms.net/2010/11/what-i-have-been-doing-lately/ http://artblooms.net/2010/11/what-i-have-been-doing-lately/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:52:30 +0000 admin http://artblooms.net/?p=1318 Finished this: Prevailing Poised Poppy Performers... And here is the lovely Piggy Longstockings. She is in all kinds of things. And here is The Christmas Goose. One of the stars from my newest Christmas Line. ]]> Finished this…

Prevailing Poised Poppy Performers



And here is the lovely Piggy Longstockings.  She is in all kinds of things.



And here is The Christmas Goose. One of the stars from my newest Christmas Line.



]]> http://artblooms.net/2010/11/what-i-have-been-doing-lately/feed/ 0 http://artblooms.net/2010/10/1156/ http://artblooms.net/2010/10/1156/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:50:02 +0000 admin http://artblooms.net/?p=1156 Just about everyone who is anyone has heard of the world famous rooster... Romancing Red. How can you forget his famous layout in Mary Englebrieght's magazine? I know I never will. Or how about the time he was all over the tabloids when he got caught in hot water. I was lucky enough to get to have an interview with him myself right before he took the Red Eye to Houston for his latest stop on his tour Oct. 30th. ]]> Just about everyone who is anyone has heard of the world famous rooster… Romancing Red.
How can you forget his famous layout in Mary Englebrieght’s magazine? I know I never will. Or how about the time he was all over the tabloids when he got caught in hot water. I was lucky enough to get to have an interview with him myself right before he took the Red Eye to Houston for his latest stop on his tour Oct. 30th.

What’s everyone crowing about?
An Interview with Romancing Red
by Debi Hubbs



Me…
“Red, (He insists on a first name basis.)
I can’t go anywhere without hearing your name.
Is all of this attention making you a little cocky?”
Red…
“Cock-a doodle doo!”

Me…
“Is it true Mary Engelbreit herself said she has never seen such nice thighs or is that just a rumor?”
Red…
“Cock-a doodle doo!”
(I chuckle here, he’s just so funny!)

Me…
I hear you are off to Houston, Texas for The Quilter’s Market to meet your 70,000 fans. And your quilt by Bigfork Bay Cotton Company will be displayed? I bet you are excited. (I start thinking maybe I should get a plane ticket to Houston…)
Red…
“Cock-a doodle doo!”

(Red distracted me here for a minute with that old joke: “How does the chicken cross the road?” For some reason when he told it, it wasn’t corny at all. (OK, I was blushing here. He is so romantic! A girl can dream can’t she?)

Me…
How would I , I mean, How does someone get one of your quilt patterns? Can I get one right here on this site?
Red…
“Cock-a doodle doo!”

Me…
I hope you don’t mind a personal question. What kind of chicks are you attracted to?
Red…
“Cock-a doodle doo!”
(Now I’m a bit mad at myself for not wearing that feather boa for this interview!)

Me…
Thank you Red for this lovely interview. Will you sign my poster?


Let’s just say I’m framing it!

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