Just when you thought that no other children’s item could get a “designer” upgrade… enter the luxury rubber duck. Yes, the children’s bathtime favorite has gotten a chic and stylish makeover. Once only available in Australia and England, California-based Rubber Duck World is selling these adorable, unique rubber duckies.

There is a colorful, polka-dot ducky, a Gothic duck, a tartan-covered one called McDuck, and a leopard print ducky (pictured here), among others. Check out all the Luxury Ducks by Bud, each retailing for $9.99.

I wouldn’t be surprised if parents snagged one of these collectibles for themselves.

I’ve realized that the tiny village I currently live in has some pretty hilarious events.  I’ve known they exist, but I’ve never actually attended one until I was on a photo assignment for the newspaper.

My town hosts an Oktoberfest celebration.  There’s always music and a car show.  It’s an all-day thing and the biggest event is the bed race down Main Street.  This is where teams of five, usually put together through various community organizations and businesses, literally make a twin-size bed with wheels and race them through the center of town.  There are four pushers and a rider for each team.  The teams decide what theme they want if any, which always produces some insane beds.  This year included grass skirts and coconut bras along with a hospital-esque bed and scrubs.

This is not just a simple sprint-to-the-finish kind of race.  The teams have to park at four stations along the way and complete a task to the satisfaction of the judges.  The tasks change every year and the teams only find out what those tasks are just a few minutes before they have to start racing.  This year’s challenges included the rider “shaving” the other four’s faces, getting the entire team passed through a hula hoop while holding hands, filling a pitcher with water using only ladles and changing the sheets before running through the finish line.

The actual races are utter madness.  The team members all have to sign waivers in case of injury, which is completely and totally possible and probable.  One team lost a wheel and a shoe, whose owner was almost run over as she tripped when her shoe came off.  The race is hard work for the teams, and it absolutely hysterical to watch.  I’ve never laughed so hard in my life while taking photos and doing my best to run along with the teams.  The whole thing is just utterly ridiculous, but raises some good money for village events.  I’d post photos, but I won’t because they all have people in them and I don’t want to cause problems so you’ll just have to use your imaginations.  And get creative with those brain cells, because it really is quite something to see school administrators and support staff duke it out in a head-to-head race.

The second event is what they call a “Duck Derby.”  There’s a ton of numbered rubber duckies, which are purchased by people throughout the week and on the day of Oktoberfest.  They are then loaded into a drop cage before being dumped all at once into the river that runs through town.  The object of the game is to be the sponsor for the first five ducks that make it to the finish line just a short way downriver.  You win some of the money that came from the duck purchases, while the rest goes to future village events.  I have never seen so many rubber duckies, nor have I ever seen a river full of them.  Here’s a few photos to illustrate the idea for you:

Just after being released, the army of duckies goes over the dam.

If they make it past the rapids and rocks after the dam, the rubber ducks float down the river in their slow-paced race.

See what I mean?  Completely and utterly ridiculous, but wonderful at the same time.  All the kids love it and the adults certainly love the chance to feel like a kid again.  It certainly helps that it was yet another absolutely gorgeous day outside, but I’ll definitely be going again next year even if it’s just to watch.

Every road trip I’ve done over the past five years has, at some point, involved the sighting of ducks. Sometimes they’re flying overhead, sometimes they’re waddling across a road, this time they were paddling across a lake.

Having spotted the humans, from far away in the distance, the brilliantly white ducks paddle in for a closer look. I suspect they were expecting to be fed. Alas, that was not to be, we were there to look only.

Aren’t these white ducks simply beautiful?

And what about this duck? Another very attractive species.

These ducks were all found swimming on the small lake in the park by the Visitor Information Centre in Parkes, NSW. It’s on the northern entrance to the town, on the Newell Hwy. The park has bbq’s, picnic tables, toilets, plenty of space and an old steam train to look at, as well as the Visitor centre. Nice and easy to find, with easy parking.

Thanks all for the extremely nice comments.  Glad you like our little under the stairs bathroom.  I imagine all my bloggy folks appreciate it much more than some of the people who will actually park their bums in there.  My FIL, for example, is probably not going to “get” our vision of a surprise woodland.

&

I thought I’d share some more snippets of a room still coming into shape.

The boys share a room and each gets his own wall space.  My youngest is still taken with all things duckies and here is his display area.  I still have to hang the banner from his b.day party, me + ladders are not a great match.

I got a bunch of vintage chalkware ducks from etsy and ebay, hope to supplement collection with thrift scores to come.  Good friends gave him the top framed rubber duckie photo for his b.day and I took the bottom shot at the carnival this summer.  On the shelf (which is not quite the right size yet) sits a vintage valentine I gave him last year, more chalkware,  old book and a duck & egg toy I got from Charlie and Pats.

3 little ducks went out to play…

The previous owners painted the ceiling to look like a lovely calm sky.  The boys love it.

The center curtains I scored at the thrift store, new and unopened for 4 bucks (I think) and the side windows have panels from The Christmas Tree Shop.  Cheap cheap but are working well in their room and is keeping it from being a TOTAL Ikea experience.

If anyone would like to join my Flickr group, Just Moved, please do!  You do not need to have just moved (as the name would imply).

I also just found this Flickr group that I’m digging, Thrift Store Decor.  Wish I had thought of it first.

]]> http://karamcmanus.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/football-season-draws-nigh-and-im-a-duckie-til-i-die/ Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:51:21 +0000 Kara http://karamcmanus.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/football-season-draws-nigh-and-im-a-duckie-til-i-die/

Not that I want to rush the termination of summer, as it’s the greatest season of the entire year, but this definitely helps me acclimate through the transition into the darker months… especially when we trounce those Beavers so oh-so-handily…

To Sara, Ally, Andy, Lish, Jessi, Libby, Michelle, and all my other Duckies out there:  OMGOMGOMGWOO!!! Fuck ‘em up, fuck ‘em up, LET’S GO DUCKS!!!

And this is for all of you Beavers, just in case the months since your incredibly devastating ass-whipping has dulled the memory of your crushing defeat…

A Duck strong-arming (or, should I say strong-winging?) a Beaver? Darwin may have been on to something with this whole “natural selection” thing. Beavers don’t get roses. Beavers get carnations or some other crappy filler flowers.

Oregon, our Alma Mater,
We will guard thee on and on,
Let us gather ’round and cheer her,
Chant her glory, Oregon!
Roar the praises of her warriors,
Sing the story, Oregon,
On to vict’ry urge the heroes
Of our Mighty Oregon!
(bridge)
Go! Ducks! Go!
Fight! Ducks! Fight!
Go!
Fight!
Win! Ducks! Win!

I’m going to start practicing now with water shots. Woo!

Yesterday we went to the local carnival which always lands over the 4th of July weekend.  We have meant to go for the past 3 years but something always came up.  So glad we made the time to go yesterday with our good friends.

We saw a dragon roller coaster.

Shoved our trash into the mouth of a clown trash can!  I am thinking this could get BIG money on ebay.

We coveted stuffed junk!

We found a clown shooting gallery.

And acted accordingly.

Watched other, braver, folks ride the Viking Ship.

I was blissed out, surrounded by all the colors and vintage carnie goodness.

This reminds me to brag about my SERIOUS faux bois score.  I scored a FREE 4 drawer filing cabinet off Craigslist.  It is a vintage beauty and photos are sure to follow once we’re settled into the new house.  Now back to the carnival…

All 3 of my men, 2 wee ones and my man, climbed through the obstacle course.  Some faster than others!

The signs were gorgeous.

My youngest covered his ears to try and block out all the massive carnival noise, even said no to cotton candy because he had no free hands.  But then, then he spotted the duckie pond.

I wanted to buy/steal the aqua and red duckie.  I settled for a photograph.  Life rule # 427, Do not mess with CARNIES.

SHAZAM! (taken through the viewfinder of my vintage Kodak Duaflex)

Day 10: We went for a walk through the Springbrook Nature Center in Blaine Minnesota, saw some cool stuff.

I couldn’t upload this video until now because I didn’t have my laptop with the editing program. I believe after this video, I have another. Then well be caught up.

The Video Diary
I am posting a new video each day for a year (or more). In other words, I am inviting anyone and everyone into my daily life. There are many other YouTubers and YouTube Celebrities doing this I thought it might be something fun to try out! I know that not everyone’s going to like each one and maybe some of you are gonna unsubscribe because of them but that’s just fine. I don’t subscribe to channels that I don’t enjoy so why should you?

Cant Get Enough?
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/kylewebs
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/kylewebs

I have finally started knitting my mom’s lacy sleeveless shell. I was apprehensive about the chart and the sizing, but I just decided to go for it. After all, if it doesn’t fit I can always unravel it and start over again. I could also just give it to her and let her decide what she wants to do with the yarn since she has started knitting and crocheting, too. I think I will pick a pattern for hat number four of my Hat a Week Project. I know I want to use the wine colored Bernat Satin Sport yarn that I used for my duckies. It’s sport weight so I am going to check Ravelry for a hat pattern I like.

I am also excited right now because Kyle Busch won the race tonight! It is his birthday today, and he has been winning all weekend. Yay for him!

So I was knitting some house socks out of Bernat Satin Sport yarn, and I am sad to say that the socks were a disappointment.    I completed the first sock, put it on, and was horrified.  The pattern was okay, but I would have changed the placement of the heel flap.  The directions didn’t clarify that I should center the lace, and as it was y first lacy sock I didn’t know I was supposed to.  As soon as I began knitting the length of the foot, I noticed that the lace was lopsided!  The eyelet/yarn over section should have begun a few stitches later, not where I put them. 

Also, the yarn is a nice choice for scarves and hats, maybe even a sweater, but it is terrible for socks!  I could literally feel the acrylic rubbing against itself when I put the sock on!  Needless to say I was very disappointed with my sock.  I will once again rip out a project made from this yarn.  So far I have ripped out two blouses and one sock made from this yarn.  I think I will try either a hat or a scarf pattern with this yarn (I have about 2 1/2 balls at about 220 yards per ball).  I wish I had it in both white and black so that I could make my nephew the pirate hat I have been meaning to make.  The pattern calls for sport weight or dk yarn, and I only have worsted weight yarn in black and white. 

On a completely different note, I decided to cut Peanut’s hair today while he was in the tub playing.  Hubby ran in with scissors, snip, snip, and it was over.  Peanut didn’t even notice.  However, I want to cut it more since it is starting to look more and more like a bob hair cut to me.  Maybe we should just shave it all off.  We have slippers, but I am just afraid to accidentally cut him in any way.  We have discussed cutting his hair while he sleeps, but I am apprehensive since that would mean that his hair might be very uneven and there would be hair all over the sheets.

I work at a wildlife preserve. No joke! Within the last week I’ve seen rabbits, birds, squirrels, bats, ducks and a mother goose with her five babies.

Even odder is the fact I’m less than a block from the Reno Airport!

It’s just another normal day at work for me. Thursday I helped herd a mama goose into a large field away from traffic.

I took pictures of the fam.

I’ll tell you one thing – she did not like me! Kept hissing at me.

Around this time of year, baby bunnies also pop in the backyard. They’re just so cute; I just want to hold them, but I know I can’t.

I have no idea where all these animals come from! You can walk out of the building anyway and see a duckie couple under someone’s car.

Bats come out during the fall and fly from tree-to-tree.

I’m not sure this type of thing happens to everyone, but it certainly is enjoyable to watch what happens next!

This morning was not unlike any other morning.  I woke up around 7:30 and stumbled downstairs to work at about 8:05.  I greeted my co-workers and went into my office.  Where I found . . .

. . . that the whole office had been covered in little yellow duckies.

All of it. Everything.  We never found out for sure who did it, but we have our suspisions.

Anna and I enjoying our duck-filled office

What an awesome April Fools’ Day/ Easter prank/ treat.

I wonder where the ducks will go next?  Perhaps in that giant swimming pool in our training space!

Mom and I flew across the country to meet Daddio in Palm Srings, CA. After a very long plane ride with a few incidents like spilling a cup of apple juice on mami, dropping my binky many times and almost loosing mami’s credit card we arrived in LA. Here we rented a car, mami had to figure out how to install my car seat and after all this drama we drove to Palm Springs. Late night we got to the lands of palm trees, golf courses, tennis and warm weather…

I woke up to have breakfast with the flamingos and duckies. They were everywhere! So fun…ran with mami all over the golf course and had a yummy bagel. Life is good! Later we ventured to the Zoo where we found more dry vegetation than life…we tried to wake up the lions, saw a badger sleeping, weird looking birds and goat looking animals. Sort of cool but thought I’d see an elephant for sure.

The following day we played tennis. Daddio took us to the USTA tournament where we saw all his friends and Uncle Ron, he’s a funny guy! Mom said he reminds her of Bunu but I said nu…Discovered that tennis balls are cool, watched Daddio play tennis, talked to a few people and ran all over the place. Fun job Daddio has! Mom is jealous…and I think I am ready for my first tennis racquet!

CA was lots of fun! Last day Mami took me to the pool, we went in the water, jumped up and down, danced poolside, ran around in the grass and had lunch with the duckies.

The resort was full of wild life, loved going up and down the stairs, talk to the parrots, watch the swans and hang out at Starbucks

Happy to go home, eat Buna’s home made spinach and sleep in my own bed…yey!

Last Sunday my new sewing buddy, Tiffany and I got together. She is new to machine embroidery and she asked if I could help her out. She was having some problems centering designs on small t-shirts. We were discussing several different items and one of the items was regarding machine embroidered applique. I told Tiffany I would do a tutorial on my blog. Tiffany, here we go and just to let you know, on this tutorial, I used spray adhesive.

Instead of looking through all my stuff to find a piece of baby clothing, I took a piece of fabric to work with. Applique can be done in all types of applications, towels, clothing, home decor and sew on. Took a piece of iron on tear away stabilizer and applied it to the back of the fabric. Tiffany, in this example I hooped both the stabilizer and fabric, I did not do what I showed you the other day. You can’t see in this photo the outline stitch of the design that I am using because the thread color is very light.

You will see why on this particular design why I decided to use  furry fleece for the applique. As I’ve stated before I don’t like to use spray adhesives, but this design has curves, thus I would have some difficulty trimming the excess material. I lightly sprayed the fleece and then laid it on the hooped fabric making sure that it was laying flat. I then did the next set of stitching where the two fabrics are sewn together to hold in place.

Now we are ready for the next step. Time to trim all the excess fleece. Take a pair of applique scissors and trim as closely as possible to the stitching making sure you don’t accidently snip a stitch or knocking the hoop apart. Can you tell the design yet? Hmm, appears that the design doesn’t look centered. Is it possible that there is going to be some embroidery below the applique? Could be.

Next step is putting the hoop back on the machine to do some embroidery. Oh we have some little orange feet. After the feet are done, the hoop is removed from the machine again.

In this photo I place a piece of water soluble stabilizer on top of the applique. Even though the furry fleece does not have a thick nap that the stitches will sink into, I don’t want the satin stitches to fall between any of the fleece or the fleece to intermingle (is that a good word to use??) with the satin stitches. This is the first time I am using a furry fleece as an applique, so as experimenting and writing a tutorial, covering all bases for a better outcome or product. Put the hoop back on the machine and time to finish the rest of the design. After all the stitching was completed, I took and removed the water soluble.

Here is the finished product. A cute little duckling just in time for Easter. Now you can see why I used the furry fleece for this particular applique design. I figured that once I was done with this tutorial I had to provide where I got the design. This design is from Anita Goodesigns “Ducks”. The design set consists of 27 appliques pertaining just to ducklings. The perfect set for any baby’s room. This month they have a design set of applique horses. There are several applique sets for Baby.

Next time I do a tutorial for machine embroidery applique, I am going to be showing how to use the product “Heat and Bond”. As I stated earlier, this design had too many curves that I would have had trouble.

Well, this was an interesting find.

http://www.coroflot.com/designsalaries/

In other news, basically the greatest video evarrrr for the greatest re-brand (well. not ever. but still it’s great). Cartoon Network!!!! (can you tell I’m a fan? oh don’t act so surprised. oh wait. you weren’t were you. yeah I guess it’s predictable). Particularily LOOOVED the yoda part. So why do I love this so much? because I’m obsessed with branding that implicates a logo that changes. Like where the colors change, the texture. All that. Reminds me of the Salazar awards last year at the Roundhouse when Stefan Sagmeister showed the logo work he did for Casa da musica. I heart logos that change. Anyhoo…here you go:

http://www.capacity.tv/

And finally. Found this little picture from a site Andrew pointed out in his blog. Made me think of some of the comments thrown around in class during critique time.

Oh. And Duckies!!!!

 On our farm we have 5 duckies (not ducks, mind you!). They like to swim in the water turtle. Since they have not ever swam in a real pond, that is all they know water to be. Poor duckies! Unfortunately we just haven’t gotten around to building them a 10k pond. Wonder why? They mostly wander around in the orchard and barn, but they can be seen hanging out at the compost heap or venturing afar in a great big scary pasture. We love it when the line up in a row, and then we can saw our ducks are in a row. They have a little portable duck coop that they get to spend each night in, else they have a tendency to become the racoons’ dinner.