Oceanside, CA

My hubby had a mini family get together after receiving a call that a few of his cousins from Colorado and Florida came to Cali.  We met @ an Oceanside beach near his auntie's house.  After many hours of playing in the water, the kids returned to their comfort zone...video games!

My older kid hangs out with the adults now and they kicked the soccer ball around.  Alex and my hubby were too quick w/their dribbling skills for me to catch it on camera.  I'm not sure if it's even called "dribbling", but it's that thing where they bounce the ball on their knee, kick it w/their feet and mix it up (from foot to foot to knee to foot, etc.) until they drop the ball.

The pier during sunset was a must.  I never grow tired of the beauty of a sunset.

What dad and son were talking about is anyone's guess.

The after glow of the sunset.   Breathless.

Finally a pix of the couple that made those beautiful kiddos.

Where's Waldo (AKA: Sabrina)?

My big girl couldn't come along because she had to work, and is too responsible to call in with a ....cough, cough, sniffle, cough.....sick.  

Simple Summer Smock

I purchased this inexpensive quilting fabric this past winter.  I am a fan of paisleys, so it won me over.  I made this simple summer smock blouse that I can wear around the house as I clean & do the mom things this summer.  because it is not fitted, it's comfy and it'll be a nice change to my customary T-shirts once in a while.  I used the fit of another similar blouse to make my brown paper bag pattern.

Brief intermission:  I remember my mom carefully opening up brown paper grocery bags to make her own pattern pieces.  I went back to what I knew and did the same.  All it took was four pattern pieces.  This design is an ode to my mom's old Mexican aprons.  Ok. back on track.

I like that a simple belt can make this lazy summer top transform into something chic when I step into the world..... to lets say....run errands.  I would feel confident if someone I knew ran into me out there if my waist was girded.

The design is so comfy that I want to buy softer fabric and make a simple smock dress w/a braided belt...when I have to go out in the world.  

My next endeavor is....learning how to make tulip sleeves.

Adios

Soooo Sad :'(

Well, apparently nobody wanted to enter my giveaway.  I'm so sad, cuz my work is so good & I take lots of pride in my craftsmanship.  Oh, well.

Goya Designs at etsy is closing it's doors.

Signing out.

Have a Happy Friday everyone.

Goya Designs' Farewell Give Away

My Etsy shop, Goya Designs is closing soon.  I thought of hosting a Farewell Give Away.  The winner will win a Grab Bag by GD, so the content won't be discovered until the winner receives it in the mail and opens their surprize :)   Now, if in the future, Goya Designs is meant to have a rebirth, then so be it.  Enough about that, lets get to how to enter to win.

To enter, tell me what you or someone u know has done to make a good-bye a positive experience (in the comment section).  If you are not registered on blogger, then you will need to open a free account before allowed to leave a comment in the comment section, thus before entering for the chance to win the grab bag.

Entries begin today and will close on July 14th @ 10 pm (Pacific Time).  The winner will be picked randomly by the number generator.  I will announce the winner on July 15th here.

Lots of love,

Gloria

Bottle Opener Reef Sandals

We all have summer musts in our wardrobe.  My summer musts are my brown and black Reef Sandals (wedge flip flops).  Today, I came across a Reef Sandal that serves double duty.  It is a shoe,  duh... and a bottle opener.  I don't drink beer, but I think these are so cool.  I wanna go by some old school, glass bottled soda pop & these sandals.  I know people would wonder how did she open her Coke w/her flip flop? 

http://islandsurf.com/islandsurf/page/product/sku/2416/p/Mens-Reef-Leather-Fanning-Bottle-Opener-Sandals.html?af_id=8&c=Brown-%7CSL%

Vintage Inspired Summer Dress

 I bought this Summer dress pattern this past Winter. A major fabric store had their patterns on sale for $1.99.  I knew this one was going to challenge me because it called for a hidden zipper and it is fully lined.  I have never done either.  I am also a novice, so I shook a little when I cut into my expensive fabric (which I used a 50% off coupon for, so it wasn't as expensive as it could of been)

As always Gigi is a gr8 help & always seems to wear things so much better than me, but I have a head and limbs, so I there.

Biggest Problem:  I cannot seem to trust pattern sizes.  Even though my measurements tell me I'm a particular size on their pattern, it is too big.  The three dresses I have made so far have produced the same results (regardless of the pattern maker).  These miscalculations result in me making alterations, getting frustrated, and prolonging my results.  On the positive side, I learned new techniques, changed the bodice to reflect my personal taste and made it my own design.

Taaadaaa!

Sorry the pix quality is not gr8.  I will keep the photographer anonymous, so as not to hurt feelings.

Cal Tech Tour

 My son, Alex received an invite from California Institute of Technology to visit their campus.

Cal Tech was est. in the 1800's and the older buildings reflect it.

During the tour, we learned that the students like to have fun to relieve stress...in their geeky way.  You'll understand as I explain the pictures.

The building below is where students and faculty can listen to visiting speakers.

Steven Hawkings visits Cal Tech every year and speaks in this forum.  Alex, my non emotional child

looked at me and smiled.  In Alex World a smile is equivalent to your child jumping up and down and screaming "Yay" with excitement.  Steven Hawkings also judges their food preparation elective contest.  Cal Tech promotes each student to learn how to cook, as evidenced by a kitchenette in every hall way in the dorms.  They also reinforce a sense of family, by having each dorm participate in family style dinners, go on field trips together, & collaborate on dorm performances to entertain the other students.  

This fountain leads to the tallest building in Pasadena, the Millikan Library.  The fountain slowly makes a 360 turn.  I'm standing on a bridge that crosses the water area.

This is the library.  We were told that Pasadena did not want towering buildings, so this library became the measuring stick by which all other buildings could not surpass.  Every Halloween, students will freeze pumpkins with liquid nitrogen and drop them from the roof top of Millikan Library.  Robert Millikan did something or other with liquid nitrogen, so it is a tribute to his work.

The Cal Tech Cannon sits in front of the Flemming House (dorm).  A few years ago MIT stole the cannon and displayed it on their campus in a brotherly feud.  Cal Tech students went to MIT to bring it back and left a toy cannon in its place with a note saying "this is more your size".  Other pranks have been Cal Tech going to MIT and hacking their newspaper with an article saying Cal Tech bought MIT and made MIT their Humanities buildings.  They also gave out Tee shirts to MIT students saying Because you couldn't get into Cal Tech.  This is their geeky fun, along w/the frozen nitrogen, dorm projects, & listening to Steven Hawkings.

 Oh, yes, nearly forgot.  The chain around the cannon is to prevent further removal.  MIT students made another attempt, but campus security stopped them.

Alex, in the charming patio near the admissions office.  I hope the tour motivates him to continue to press on during his last two years.  In the car ride home,  He said, "It was awesome", then he asked what we were having for lunch.