Ollie in the new house

more about "Ollie in the new house", posted with vodpod

Jars of Sunshine

Better than a bouquet of roses any day!

Harvest season in my little town means a lot of busyness. Nope, not business… although I suppose the two can work hand in hand. Like when you’re at your job and it’s really, really slow, like wanting to moon the passers by just to get some sort of somethin’ happening and you start organizing the rubber bands by size or suddenly have the impulse to color coordinate the books in the art section. *end of tangent..maybe*

But yes, harvest season in an agricultural town means pick that fruit before it plops off and turns into a rancid mess on the orchard floor. Gorge yourself on any sort of plant life until you feel your pants’ infrastructure being compromised and ‘roid those pumpkins up until you need a Uhaul to tow it to the fair at the end of the month. It also means that it’s time to can.

There are some folks that get a little nervous about eating canned goods. ‘Will it poison me to death or just make me wish I was dead?’ ‘What’s that stuff floating in it!?’ Actually, I remember as a kid when my mother tried canning asparagus and I thought that very same thing…’What’s that stuff…’ What is that stuff?

Maybe it’s because canning is this covert, underground kinda thing these days that people think isn’t as widely done as it used to be. Tsk tsk… Haven’t you ever noticed that the seasonal aisle at the drug store has tons of canning supplies that seem to disappear overnight? You’ll see. Canning will make it’s comeback as one of the pop-domestic rebirths just like knitting and cross-stitch. And I’m gonna start it! …with Joan’s help, of course.

Joan is one of my lovely friends that gets me all inspired to do more in a quiet sort of way. She and I have canned peaches before together (she does them every year whether I’m there or not!) and I got a chance to do it again this year! One of the bonuses to doing the peaches is getting to have a bunch for my very own.

The process is actually pretty simple… there are just a bunch of steps that could possibly get out of order.

Sweet Joan let me in the house telling me that she was waiting for a call from her mom to let her know about fruit preservatives (aka Fruit Fresh – you young kids might remember back in the day there used to be the Fruit Fresh commercial with that old lady that looked at the young lady’s peach half and then her boyfriend’s peach half (the young lady’s not the ol’ croon) and said something like, “This peach is fresh and yummy while this peach is brown and YUCKY!” Who are the ad wizards that came up with that one?!?! I digress…) I thought that it was so cute that she’s been doing this for years and just can’t quite remember how that works. Apparently her mom still uses that tried and true method of using vinegar and… baking soda? Mmmm… delish! I guess you rinse off the peaches before canning them so that the flavor doesn’t remain… but still…

So here’s where we started out.

Canning looks nice and tidy....

Joan’s stove top was steaming and bubbling without much ado. Apparently, when you can you might as well start out with every giant pot and bowl that you have. On second thought, you might want to borrow some more from next door. FYI – The largest pot there on the right is the canner. Inside there is a canning rack that holds seven large canning jars with bumpers to keep those jars from rattling into one another when the canning water starts boiling. The second largest pot in the back and the left has hot sugar water (aka simple syrup) that is added once the peaches are in their new glass houses. The third largest pot has boiling water for blanching the peaches. And while blanching makes me think either of A Streetcar Named Desire or Golden Girls it has nothing to do with either… You’ll see.

Do you feel lucky, peach?

The peaches that we used are from a local, family owned orchard. When it comes to cling-free peaches (ahem, peaches that don’t stick to the pit…) you might want to get your hands out of the way! Lots of little ol’ ladies get pretty territorial over their canning peaches. While Joan isn’t old I’m not sure that she’s an exception to the rule. I couldn’t say. We’ve never been fruit shopping together….

Get ready to become uninhibited

After a seriously hot and steamy bath in the blanching water for 30 seconds the peaches are cooled off fast as you please in a bowl of cool water. A bit like the polar bear clubs of old men that get in a sauna and jump out into the snow or an icy lake! The only difference is that the peaches aren’t crazy! Sheesh! (And now, my favorite part….*drumroll*)

Wait for it...

AND THEY'RE OFF!!!

And like MAGIC the peaches surrender their fuzzy fuzz to reveal slippery smooth naked fruit! (Whoa. Maybe I should rate this entry XXX.)

They’re then cut in half, pits removed (but, of course!), bruises cut out and slipped into a refreshing Fruit Fresh bath… this is all like a spa, really. Some peaches pay a lot of money for this kind of service! The exception is that we get to munch on the bruises as we go… well…. hmmm. Someone, please tell me that that is the exception..? Ew.

Fruit Fresh, take me away!

The jars were getting warmed up in the canner with water keeping them weighed down. We dumped out the jar water and got ready to stack some peaches.

Ready, set.....

It's like a puzzle really

And after we’ve put in as many peach halves as we can it’s time for the syrup. You know all about that syrup, don’t you? That’s the stuff that’s leftover once the peaches are gone that you want to take a straw to. It’s only your guilt and your pancreas that keeps you from turning the allowed extra few spoonfulls into a “big gulp.” I always thought that “peach juice” was what Mary Poppins was talking about with her spoonful of sugar and all…. mmmm, yummy.

Peach"juice"

The two smaller pots hold canning lids (the flat piece that has a rubber-like ring that seals over the rim of the jar) and the rims (the screw-on circle that keeps the lid from popping off). Both were sitting in hot water, of course.

And SO! The jars have peaches and syrup inside, lids and rims on top. When the canner is full the water is brought to a boil and the clock is watched for… uh… oops! Twenty minutes? Thirty minutes? Joan? Obviously I was not the one watching the clock!

Get your canners started!

All filled up

After the, ahem, boiling time is over the cans are set up on a table and with fingers crossed the little nub in the middle of the lid will pop down. Otherwise you get those little floaty things… (what are those?)

We filled two canners during the few.. or more hours I was there.

It was awesome getting to hang out with her family. I have to admit that it was kind of strange at the same time because I’m normally at her house alone kitty sitting while they’re all out on some sort of family adventure.

We had some good conversations and I managed to get her hooked on Angry Chicken so that it was on the computer when I went to fetch my set up peaches the next day. Gotcha!

I only hope that my blog ends up being such a hit!

(Joan, feel free to let all of my addicted readers know how long the peach cans need to boil in the canner… Plus, we can use it next time along with all the other info. so that you’ll only need to call your mom to say hi.)

Get baked!

I adore the sweet, domestic idea of baking. The smell, the nostalgia that we all have, the lovely treats that range from the complicated to the ridiculously easy and the concept that baking is meant to be shared. Even if you’re squeezing shamrock cookies out of a tube there’s still a sense that you should have a friend over to delve into their tasty mediocrity with a nice glass of milk.

I have managed to step on a little gold mine (not as painful as it sounds) by making treats, sharing them and getting paid to do so! I had heard from my boy about how his sister makes a nice chunk of change each holiday season by baking pumpkin rolls and selling them, word-of-mouth mind you, to friends and associates. I’d never had anything that sounds as mysterious as a pumpkin roll. Is it like a bun? Like a dinner roll? That doesn’t sound so hot. As per usual I was wrong.

GET YOUR FORK!!

I thought, “Hey, I know my way around an oven pretty well. If he’s gonna go on and on about how good they are then maybe I should give it a try.” Little did I know that the astounding pumpkin rolls were a locked up family secret. I managed to get a copy from a family member that will go unnamed under the pretext that it was actually going to Rock. I mean, he IS part of the family so it’s ok. One relative said to my source, “These are just going to family, right? Because it is a family secret recipe.” Now, I’m telling you this in good faith that you will not rat me out. It could have very serious consequences. I’m just hoping that no one that minds me having this recipe knows what a blog is…..

So, I made one for Thanksgiving one year and people raved. NO! I mean RAVED about it! I thought, maybe this is why it’s guarded so much. I also realized that I could be making some serious moolah if I got the word out. And so I did. More moolah is always appreciated.

Cooling pumpkin roll

That year I sold a few from making a sweet little flier and giving it to some friends of mine as well as at work. People ordered some for Christmas, some for Thanksgiving, some for gifts and some to eat at the table (or in secret with just a fork and the TV… don’t worry, I won’t tell them it was you). The next year, this would be last year, I had quite a number of orders! My therapist alone ordered 16!

The thing is that they are all made by hand. This means that the only machines that were involved were the oven and maybe the clock on the microwave so that I had timing right. I saved up and am hoping to get a

Oooo, filling!

refurbished KitchenAid to help with the batter and filling. What would I do with myself if I didn’t have to mix by hand? Make more rolls!!

So in case you have never had a pumpkin roll here’s your chance to see it in the making… although I really can’t tell you what’s in it. You never know what a family will do to protect it’s own secret recipes!

I’ll be testing out some other flavor options… carrot cake, chocolate, chocolate with peppermint… oh yeah. You might wanna get your order in now. I’m unstoppable!

Double your pleasure, double your fun

Dear Diary,

I’m sorry that I haven’t written in so long. There have been so many things happening! I hope you haven’t been lonely or mad at me. There’s so much to tell you but I can’t do it right now. I’m going to the pool and then Pizza Hut for lunch!!! I’ll write soon. I promise.

Love,

CP

Yeah. Didn’t we all do that when we were kids? And by we I mean girls. And by girls I mean me. Yup. So, those were the kind of apologies that I think I was really writing to myself because I had this feeling that there were certain things that I was supposed to do in my life or else I was a loser. Years of therapy later I know that, indeed, I am not a loser but an over achiever that gets overwhelmed by her own ambitions and responsibilities. Don’t let this happen to you. If it does, I’ve got someone that can help you out but it might involve standing in front of a mirror and loving your inner child. And by inner child I mean thighs.

SO! No apologies. We’re going to dive in as if it hasn’t been forever since my last entry….

The craft group has a name! Rock and I were talking and he kind of came up with the term and I came up with what it stands for. (Sesame Street calls that co-operation.) Art Craft Design Culinary (ACDC) – I think it’s pretty awesome and the fact that it includes everything that we can and will cover (maybe) is perfect. If you’re in the central Washington area and need a group that can paint a design on an apron that they’ve made and are wearing while cooking then let me know!

Each meeting gets a little better. There’s a little more to talk about and everyone’s a little less shy and a little more on the same page. Yahoo!

Not my picture, but isn't it pretty!

At our May meeting we enjoyed Adam’s treat of panacotta which was delicios! It was a type of gelatin: white and creamy while tasting like nuts, coconut or cream on the bottom half, light orange, fruity and clear with mango slices on the top. I hope that he makes it for another meeting or gives me the recipe. He thought it would be too strange to enjoy. I think everyone went back for at least one more helping. (I got to keep some of the leftovers! Jealous?)

Lots of things were talked about (not all craft related, of course). Everyone met the kitty that Rock and I found mewing it’s little head off on our front porch. (She’s still here if anyone would like her. The vet said that she’s perfectly healthy and she’s such a little spunky cutie! Don’t you think?)

In our first meeting I had asked their opinions on an idea I had to turn my kitties’ whiskers into a project. I had heard once years ago that it is good luck to find a cat whisker… I may have even made it up as a child, who knows. I’ve been keeping the whiskers of our two cats – one white the other black – on folded pieces of paper. Each new one found would be taped to the contrasting colored paper. After a while of collecting the whiskers started looking really interesting. I had enough to do a project with, but what? Why not just do the same sort of thing but on better paper? Maybe a cool background? So here’s the result.. I continue to add.

Whisker-lickin' good!

We decided to start doing project assignments! The one for the June meeting would be trash. The idea is to make something out of an item(s) that you would normally throw away. Hmmmm….. so many options.

On to our June meeting! (A second one to read about hence the double your pleasure bit…)

This meeting is a little fresher in my mind since we had it just a couple of weeks ago. Four of us were there and only one didn’t bring a project BUT she’s been moving into a marvelous house just a few blocks from 4 other members. Everyone that’s moved knows that moving is a bitch. You’re lucky to sleep and eat. Who the hell has time for other projects? (Now you know where I stand.)

Adam and Edel brought awesome and practical projects. Adam made Roledex cards out of those annoying subscription cards that jump out at you when you are trying to enjoy that article on growing coleus during the winter. How perfect! Take something that bugs you and turn it into something you needed. It has the right lines and everything. He decided that if you don’t have a Roledex you could also turn it into a fabu little address book. He also made envelopes using catalog pages. It’s always fun to try to get lots of T&A photos that you can send through the mail.

Edel is a clever puss as well for using an old school instructional crochet booklet from the 70s and making a bottle cap trivet! Each bottle cap gets a crocheted cover and then the yarny bottle caps are sewn together. Looks like a flower in the end.

While my project wasn’t very functional it was still quite clever… if I do say so myself. One day after Rock brushed our white kitty, Ollie, who’s shedding like a performing drag queen’s boa during showtime (does that work?) he handed me the wad of fluff that was caught up in the brush. I looked at it in awe. So light, so soft. I thought aloud, “What a good little nest this would make!” And so, since I was nearing the deadline… ahem… I mean, since I was struck with trash genius I decided to make my piece out of Ollie fur. Normally, it would go in bits outside to the birds… which also added to my inspiration.

Here are the bits of trash I used to complete the entire thing:

• - long product box where the inside slides from a surrounding box
• - cellophane that comes from around a bouquet of flowers
• - discarded bits of thread and string
• - Ollie and Amaya fur (as I’ve already said)
• - napkins that I used once at dinners but weren’t really soiled
• - extra corrugated cardboard that was floating around my studio

I also used Mod Podge, rubber cement, white glue, clear nail polish and craft acrylic paint (and a real egg with a plastic bag over it as a form).

Here it goes:

Box – The outer bit was painted in some natural blue and purple tones and a long, round-cornered rectangle was cut out of the top. A piece of cellophane was cut to fit the opening and then rubber cement was used to secure it as a “window” to where the contents would be in the box.

The inner box came with an insert that I traced onto a plain piece of corrugated cardboard with an extra bit on each long edge. A score line was cut with an exacto knife to divide the extra bits on the side from the main part. I only cut through 1/2 of the board and then folded the flaps down. These acted as “legs” to elevate the insert from the bottom of the box. The insert was then painted and holes were cut out that would act as holders. The bottom of the box which wouldn’t really be seen was painted with little bird silhouettes big enough so that all you see is brown through the hole. Insert removed, there are the birds!

Ollie's nest

Nests – I wanted to make a support for the nests, a skeleton in a way. I took a simple little sandwich bag and covered the egg with one end pointing up. I then coated the snippets of thread with Mod Podge until they were good an’ gooey. The snippets were then loosely strewn over the egg and left to dry in the fridge. (I

could still use that egg!) I made one each on the big and narrow ends leading to two sizes.

Amaya's nest

The fur was then gently pressed onto the trimmed thread skeletons; large – Ollie’s white fur, small – Amaya’s dark fur… relatively they are that way in real life.

Eggs – I took the napkins and cut them up placing them in a bowl of water. Once good and soft I drained the water, added white glue and began making a mush. Little pinches were formed into egg shapes relative to the sizes of the fur nests. After they dried I filed them with a nail file and painted them with a robin’s egg blue that I mixed followed by two tones of brown spots and a coat of nail polish.

TA DA!!!

Nest-sweet-nest

While I was working on this project I came up with all kinds of deep symbolic meanings… Birds make their nests with many things including fur or hair of those that tend to be harmful towards them like I had done with the cat fur. This principle is like one I learned while studying a bit of Tai Chi when I was a kid. One main exercise that we were taught was to stand face to face with your “opponent”, right legs forward, right arms up and bent, wrists touching. A medium paced rhythm was set up of one person leaning back as the other gently pushed with their arm and leaned forward, the wrists going in a circular motion as each took turns going forward. At some point one would try to push their wrist toward the opponent’s face and the opponent must be ready and direct that arm away from their face in a smooth motion. This was to teach us to guide away negativity – not absorb it or retaliate – simply to allow

that negativity to go on its way. Cool! (You should try it with someone. It’s a very calming, rhythmic

Gettin' artsy with the angles

exercise.) So, with the nests it’s like working with what you have rather than pushing away sources that could do you good just because it came from your enemy.

I also thought about nurturing and mothers and siblings…

And then I thought of kitties… of course. This new kitty that’s been in our house has made Ollie act in a way that we didn’t expect. He’s normally so playful and bully-like towards Amaya who is small and lady-like. It’s overwhelming to her. The kitty (no, we haven’t named her ‘cuz we’re NOT keeping her…stop asking, please) is tiny but playful and tough. She and Ollie, there being close to a 10 lb. difference, fight and kick and chase but sometimes (read: always) end up holding each other while Ollie licks her head….? How did he become so mothering? He insists on cleaning her. She prefers having her head cleaned while he’s willing to do a full wash. Go figure.

So what started out as being just an exercise in making something out of nothing turned into a meditative and reflective thing for me. I’m trying to figure out how to hang it on the wall as a reminder…

This month’s assignment material: glass.

I still have no idea. Good thing the meeting’s been postponed.

(I’m working on getting pictures up for this one, but I’m so sick and tired of not having a new post up that I thought I’d just go for it and make you come back to check on pics later. Sorry. Come back soon!

SO! As you can see the pictures are up! What do you think?)

Gung Sangs

(gung sangs = vacation in Wylie (also in Tibetan script above)

So, a few of weeks ago… geez, has it been that long already?…. I went out of town for a loverly little trip to visit my sister and, oh yeah, the Dalai Lama. (I mentioned this last time, but I thought I’d jog your memory or take it jogging or whatever they say.) I’ve got details. Follow along at will…

An old friend of mine was moving to West Seattle and his younger sister had reconnected with me not long before. She suggested that we go to Seattle to visit her brother, but, alas I was already headed that way the same weekend…..OH! Wait! I thought, why don’t I drive and we can all hang out befores and afters the weekend? And so that’s what we did.

On a Thursday we had a nice, refreshing ride (it was raining on the mountain pass – better than snow!) and we thought we knew which exit to take, but, well there was no exit to take. We wiggled our way to our meeting point and had coffee and French pastries at this sweet little place in Pike Place. After that I was on my way to my sister’s.

Seattle map a la Sunday funnies

I have to say that I know that going to Seattle on one’s own, especially when they’re an adult is not too much of a challenge or accomplishment, but for me it felt big. There was a time in my life, just a few years ago actually, that I couldn’t do much of anything. Traveling over a mountain pass and navigating through the city feeling completely calm (except for a good dose of excitement) was something I could only hope for in the future. But there I was. It was like something clicked and it all just seemed so simple and accessible. Whew. It sucks to be scared of what you want to do all the time.

Now my poor sister has been suffering from food allergies like I’ve never heard of and our choices of places to go out to eat are limited – not nearly as limited as when she makes her way east to the land of Mexican food and hamburgers to visit me (we did just get a fabu Indian place though!). Food didn’t really matter because it was so good to see each other again.

The rest of the weekend was filled with working out (we went to the Y together…I’ve never been able to work out with my sister before! She’s pretty buff, but then so am I! *ahem* (nail polishing on shirt)), lots of eating, shopping, walking (good thing I didn’t forget my inhalers..) and hanging out with friends.

We went to this event that a friend had told us about involving the Northwest Film Forum and some sort of fashion show. We weren’t exactly sure what it was all about but we still got dolled up and went. I felt like we were stepping into an event where we really didn’t belong… lots of film folks (I would imagine), big wigs and general fashionistas. I felt like we had just walked into some sort of movie ourselves. I was half-expecting to see at least one person that I knew from the good ‘ol days. Alas, no. We hung out to see some of the fashion and then, because we came late, it was over.

So we went out for a drink and I asked the bartender for one of his best fruity/girly drinks. He said, ‘I know just the thing.’ And there it was: a starburst. Yes, named after the scrumptious candy I had in front of me a rather inconspicuous, strawberry flavored beverage. Whooo, nelly! Now anyone can tell you that I’m not a drinkin’ kinda gal, still, I managed to polish the thing off and started felling woozy. So, because I don’t drink almost EVER drunk for me is most likely buzzed for anyone else. And I was drunk-ish… I started thinking about the idea that we would sometime have to leave the joint and I considered the height of my heels (again a rarity for me) and the distance to the car. I felt like the little kid at the top of the really tall ladder for the slide with a line behind him that says ‘Waaaaahhhh! I can’t do it!!’ Nevertheless I did it and I’m here to tell the story… I’m sure that no one could even tell I was feeling tipsy.

The real characters of 7 Years in Tibet

But back to one of the main events: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. (Sorry, your Holiness to have to put you after a night out story…) My sister won these 4 tickets to the event at Qwest Field for free! Hooray for free, right? We went with a couple that my sister is friends with. There was some confusion as to where our seats were located, but after a nice little walk we found them. In the corner of the field furthest from the stage those that were speaking were nothing but little ant people with arms. Luckily there was a large screen so that we knew which ant was speaking. It turned out to be a glorious day; sun shining, temperatures reaching 78. We all got a bit crispy from the sun and everyone’s program doubled as a fan.

Now, I try to keep my blog light and easy to read, although I sometimes wonder if it makes me sound a bit flaky, but being in the presence of the Dalai Lama was a really moving experience for me. I had wanted to appreciate it as best I could and prior to the event watched Seven Years in Tibet and began reading his autobiography. (I had also heard that Yoda is based not only on the teachings of the 14h Dalai Lama but also his voice. It sounds so much like that sometimes!) I was so awed by what he had to say. Being that it was an event for Seeds of Compassion, a program that bases the change of the future on the ways of kindness that we teach our children, the speeches were geared that direction. When he spoke the Dalai Lama made compassion seem like such a simple thing, such a natural way to treat others.

I found myself moved to tears for most of his speech for various reasons. Being in the same area and able to listen to him after all that he’s been through and all that he’s done and represented to millions was quite moving. Just the process of finding him is a worthwhile topic to study. I was also moved by the idea that children mimic what they are taught and told. I think that’s something that we all realize but to think of the changes we could make if children were just taught to be compassionate – never mind teaching other beliefs and religions – but just a ‘you’re human and so am I’ kind of compassion. So simple yet so far from the thoughts that many people have running through their minds on a daily basis.

After that the weekend was all gravy.

We hung out together after the event and enjoyed the warm summer-like weather. Laura, my sister’s friend was busy telling me about this amazing indie crafter’s fair that happens once a month in Seattle called I heart rummage. (This is a craft blog after all. Might as well get to it!) Usually happening at the beginning of each month the fair hosts all kinds of stuff from art to wearables to the things that make you go ‘uh…what?!’ I’m hoping to make it one of these months (next month would be fine) and hopefully sell off some of my lovely creations. Laura also has her own business and blog based on her incredible ability to capture the moment in her magic box. (aka camera)

On Sunday my sister had to head off to work early so I was left to fend for myself. The day was almost polar opposite to the one before. Typical Seattle it was cool, cloudy and threatening to rain. I had arranged to meet a friend at a local crêperie off Broadway. (No joke intended.) When I got there I didn’t see her and ordered a coffee while I chatted with the owner/crêpe master. I didn’t realize that she was sitting around the corner of a wall. (To tell the truth I was pretty proud of myself for not panicking when I thought she wasn’t there. I think I’m getting the hang of this!)

We talked and ate and she suggested that I show some of my work at the crêperie sometime. I’ve been thinking of putting together some cathartic, autobiographical pieces made of my leftover medical ephemera and that could be a very good place to do it. We talked with the owner, Wally (I’m sorry if that’s not your name, but I think it is!), and he told me about getting in touch with the curator to set something up. (!) Dipika and I then went to Top Pot which is renown in the Seattle area at the very least for having the best doughnuts in existence. Even Howard Schultz (read: Starbucks) was so inspired that he started selling them with his cuppa joe… After being frozen they weren’t quite the same though. When we parted I was happy and properly gorged on carbs.

I headed off to west Seattle to pick up my friend, hang out with old friends and chug some gas before heading home. When I reached home I got the strangest feeling that I had landed on another planet. There are two kinds of native eastern Washington-ers: those that are born and raised there and never want to leave and those that will do anything it takes to get out. While I’m of the second mindset I believe that I’m getting closer to having my cake (low rent, a big yard, abounding dirt cheap thrift and peace & quiet) and eating it, too (showing art and selling crafts in Seattle, running an Etsy store (keep your ears open for that one) and feeling alive and NOT TRAPPED!).

By the way, I love cake.

CAKE!!!! (Seriously.)

We meet again…

Salad fingers

Hoorah! Last Wednesday was the second meeting of the minds…is that what we should call it?…aka my little artsy/crafty group. This time we had only one person from the last group and two “new” people. I think that everyone is still getting their feet wet with this idea and I think that up ’til this point we’ve all been used to doing our own things without much discussion. That’s cool. We’ll get there.

I added Joan’s killer canned peaches to the mix of goodies this time along with the usual culprits of veggies, dip and cake. (Not necessarily all together.) Maybe next time I’ll have people bring a munchy of their own to share. Since we’ve decided to add cooking to the mix I think this should be an easy task to coordinate and promote.

I got advice this time on my fabric covered buttons for sewing in the pin backs… but alas, it won’t work. I showed off my heavy-duty beadwork project and got many oos and ahhs, thank you very much. We talked more about medical ephemera and tried to figure out how one could turn empty, plastic syringes into ribs. Heat could work but not without having them bend at a weak point or just melt down flat.

There are lots of things that we all do: glass blowing, cooking, knitting, welding, photography, paper crafts, painting, sewing, mixed media, beading…! It’s going to be grrrreat!

The plan now is to offer up assignments for each month. (I’m thinking book club-esque but more outside the box… or cover, as it were.) We would be given a very broad and vague idea to expand on and interpret for the next meeting. It wouldn’t have to be anything profound, just creative. Here’s an example: what can you make with candy wrappers? Or what can you sew that isn’t fabric? I might still assign some thing for the next meeting… but what?!?

I was also thinking about having workshops where one of us could show the others how to do something that the rest of the group doesn’t know how to do. We’re so diverse that I think we each have something that we could show the others. Maybe we could eventually go on field-trips! (museums, craft stores, factories!)

Wassup DL?

This weekend I’m going to Seattle to hang with my sparkling sister and her creative friends. We’re also going to see the His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (apparently that’s his full title). I’m so thrilled!!! I’ve got a pretty big birthday coming up and I really feel that it’s time to start taking stock in my life. No more waiting to find my calling or waiting through the hard stuff. There will always be hard stuff. I hate waiting with things like that. If I have to wait in line, I’m ok. If I have to wait a little in a waiting room, that’s fine I usually bring a book. But I am through waiting for mother nature or fate or whatever to decide what happens next. That’s a waste of my very precious time.

So I’m gathering up some information and some good energy and I’m charging in. I’ve already changed my hair, bought some new clothes and this trip will just add to the whole process. I plan on making regular trips since it’s looking like I won’t be able to move any time soon. Fine, we’ll just have to some up with a compromise.

I’ll let you know how it goes…

Meeting of the like minds

MUFFINS!

So, it finally happened! I’ve been talking for quite a while now about getting a group together of open-minded, discussion starved, sponge-esque, mutant ninja, tea and wine sipping, serious laugh inducing young artists and crafters to talk about what they love to do, ask for and give help on projects as well as maybe getting into some existential conversations about art and what the hell the definition is of art… and whaddya know, they showed up at my house out of the blue!

Don’t you wish it happened like that…POOF! *Ding dong* Well, that would imply that I have a doorbell which I don’t but maybe you do. You get the idea. But it didn’t happen like that. I kept my eyes and ears open for anyone that might be looking for something like this with or without even knowing it. So I asked a couple of people at work…sure! I heard that an old acquaintance was moving back to town and might need some new buddies…..awesome!

I was a little nervous about how to get things started. But soon after asking myself, how do I get this things started? I had the answer. I asked folks to bring examples of what they’re working on or just be ready to talk about it and thought that I would simply talk about why I wanted this group. Easy enough. So why did I want this group?

While a seemingly lovely little metropolis in the middle of the desert, an oasis if you will, my bitty town seems void of young, artistic blood. We may be out there, but for some reason we’re not talking to each other or we’re busy with the kids and the mortgage and the car payments. Nothing wrong with that but it makes it really hard to do what you love and sometimes people just slide further away from their passion. While I don’t have the kids and the mortgage and the car payments (just cats, appointments, a love for sleep during the day, reading and movies) I have a really hard time motivating myself after a while. I image that most of us do. In a city it’s so much easier to get that oomph. There’s no need to talk to anyone, although it never hurts. All you have to do is walk out your door and watch the people around you, go to a museum, have a cup of coffee and eavesdrop. Even going to the store can be the source of that great novel you wanted to write. The park can be the sculpture that you’ve been itching to solidify. Little closed-minded towns don’t often offer up their riches to those that don’t try, so I tried.

I went to the store and got some fresh fruit and veg and a precious little cake. I broke out the glass dishes with the built in spot for a matching punch cup that I got for Christmas (THANKS DES!!). I warmed up the kettle so all it would take was 30 seconds for a whistle. One guest couldn’t make it because she needed to keep her long shift and another had an emergency (hope all’s ok), but my old time friend was coming AND she was bringing another old time friend from high school! Tres fabu!

So we sat and talked… houses, kids, projects, field trip, finding time and they patiently listened to all my health mumbo jumbo. I asked for their advice for what I should use all my medical ephemera on. It was good. It was great! What a wonderful start and we meet again on Wednesday the 2nd. Hopefully everyone will be able to make it as well as another friend of a friend who’s a maker of stuff. That could be as many as SIX people! Woo-hoo!

Kickin’ it old school

Let’s go back in time….(*wavy, flashback lines*)

O, tannenbaum

Yeah! So it’s Christmas! (Remember we went back in time?) And because my sister is coming I thought I’d add a nice little touch to the season and make stockings. Sounds simple enough, right?

Uh, I’ve come to terms with realizing everything I decide to make that I think is simple is actually very, very difficult and extremely time consuming. We’re talking to a ridiculous degree. Seriously. If you don’t believe me, check out my last post. It was fun, I’ll give you that, but whoa, have you ever heard of a card, CleverPuss?

Ok, back to the point and the season and what am I talking about last post when it’s “December” and I haven’t started my blog yet? (*hands up with a shrug*) Geez, let’s just get on with this.

SO! Stockings. In the past I’ve just used whatever was available. Last year I used purses and winter hats…and mittens for the kittens, of course. I thought that I would make some stockings that looked like various types of footwear since that’s where it started – shoes left outside for St. Nick to come around and drop off an orange or some biscuits or something. (I think that’s how it worked. Please, do not correct me if I’m wrong.) So, how does one go about making footwear stockings. I thought I’d do some drawings of things that might work: biker boot, wellie boot, cowboy boot, highheeled boot, ice skate, etc. Then I picked out some felt for the boots I chose (the first three and the ice skate) because it doesn’t need a lot of babysitting and edge-stitching and then some material for the actual stocking. The boots were drawn free hand onto opened up paper bags and then pinned to the various colors of felt. Each one got some three dimensional details except the ice skate because I ran out of time and since that was going to be for Josie and she couldn’t make it I put the kibosh on it. (Maybe next year.) I didn’t get to finish the cuffs, but it didn’t really matter. They still turned out great!

There was an argument over thread tension between me and my sewing machine. For some reason the thread that I bought to match the project perfectly really wanted to be eaten by the bobbin. Grrrr…. And, yes, more than a few tears were shed when I thought that I was going to lose my mind from seam-ripping out rows of nasty, gnarly looking stitches. And of course there were a few potty mouth words that crossed my lips, but such is the way of creating an anal-minded project.

I bet you want to see the results! Feast your eyes!

Einy, meeny, miney, mo!

Squish squash

I can’t remember who got which one, but does it matter? Each boot was stitched either decoratively and/or functionally to the front stocking piece and then the back piece was added. The blue and purple wellie has all kinds of crazy machine stitches on it.

Giddy yup!

The cowboy boot had so many cool stitching details. I love the heel and toe 3-dimensionality to it.  And while the flowers didn’t turn out exactly as planned they came out kind of better. This was my first time to embroider something! Yay me!

If you have a Hell's Angel on one shoulder then what's on the other?

The biker boot looks the most 3D and in fact has 3D buckles and straps that are all made of felt. The silver buckles I made by using a zig-zag stitch in a rectangle or circle two times and then cut out. The stitching helps make it look shiny. If you can zoom in to see the details I would recommend it. They’re better in person, of course. If you ask nicely the next time you’re over at my house I’ll be happy to show them to you in person!

Crass-stitch

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a border...

I’m the kind of person that does well in a pinch. Always studied for tests during the last moments before putting that #2 in my hand. The house doesn’t get cleaned, by me that is, until there’s someone coming over…Ok. Let’s scratch that last one – we all know that Rock does the cleaning no matter what’s going on. So, let’s say that B.R. (before Rock and his cleanly ways), it would be in my apartment or now it’s in my workroom…happy now?

Getting back to the point I was getting at… I find it hard sometimes to get inspired until there’s something to get inspired for (grammar aside). The other day I found out that it was a friend’s birthday. I asked his roommate what she thought he might like and offered up my craftiness. Cross-stitch was the first answer but because I’ve never done it before I prodded about a possible second. Maybe one of Rock’s great tees? (I make ‘em too but not yet like this cool one.) Sure, said she!

I hadn’t really been surprised about the cross-stitch answer since he had just shown me that day the new Valentine doilies that Subversive had posted on several blogs. When I went home and thought and thought about the possibility of whipping up one of the cross-stitch designs that he had just shown me I thought I might just take a chance.. or at least on something similar. It looked pretty simple and straight-forward…right? So thanks to Subversive Cross Stitch I combined the message of one with the border of another and I have to admit that I made pretty fast work of it all because it was kinda fun. I guess it was good for both of us.

Now I’m thinking about doing some other stuff like pillow case borders and I think I’ll have to try my hand at making my own designs. To tell the truth, I’m not too keen on anything too fancy like scenes or flowers and that kind of rubbish (sorry, I’m watching Hard Day’s Night..). Simple geometrics seem so sweet and the smart-ass things that Subversive comes up with crack me up. I might have to come up with some designs that carry the inside jokes that float around my friends and family as well as coming up with some other things that are just sarcastic and blunt. Why would I want something cute and/or pretty in cross-stitch to put on a wall? Might as well get a good laugh out of it or have it serve some function. Any ideas, anyone?

(Finished project pics to come…..OH! The suspense!)

Update March 6th:

So, here it is kids!! He loved it. At least I think so. When I gave it to him laughing and jumping up and down ensued. Ah, another happy customer. Here’s the final project:

Nothin' says lovin' like a good dose of shut the hell up!

I’m kinda digging the way the back looks…It’s like some sort of Klingon scripture.

Take me to your leader...or I'll eat you!

Location location location..maybe

New kid on the block

I guess when you’re on the intranets the whole location theory doesn’t quite work out. Unfortunately, I’m a few clumps of hair short after dwelling on the online equivalent of location – a name! Holy crap! I’d like to consider myself a fairly creative young lass but when it comes to getting things “perfect” I think I might be a bit hard on meself. After doing a good share of browsing some excellent craft blogs out there – and getting addicted to one or two (you know who you are!) – I became bogged down by the thought that my crafty bliss and ticket to the popular artsy-girls club was just behind that gate marked NAME. No smashing name, no entry. I’m sure there’s something to be said about that…but probably not much.

So, here I am. A perfectly good piece of paper thrashed with ideas later and I’m glancing at the new three words that I’ll associate myself with for quite some time, hopefully. So what does it mean… what do any of them mean? The Angry Chickens and 3191s and all the folks that just use their own name, for godsake! I mean, how gutsy is that!? I wanted something that was clever – some sort of word play, charming – not quite bunnies and blankies but pretty darn cute just the same, had something to do with what I do and who I am. Make sense now? Excellent. Now if I can only figure out how to manage this whole blog thing I’ll be set.