Tuesday, July 15, 2008

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BLOG?

Like so many of you, I look to blogs for inspiration + would like to know what blog(s) REALLY inspire(s) you?
My Bloglines needs a bit of an update.

Here are a few I've recently discovered
Argyle Whale
Kleas
Milk + Honey

I am pleased to present a photo of the first tomato from my garden,
it's a Cherokee Purple.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

WE LOVE OUR BIKES!

My boy got a tune up on his bike + now each journey starts off with the question...
should we ride our bikes? Yes!

As much as we love our neighborhood, the one thing that's missing is a grocery store. There is a corner market, but it's a little scary to this California-raised gal. A friend says it brings back childhood memories, the smell of bleach + cured ham.

Saturday we had a yardsale with some friends +
got rid of lots of crap-ola!
AND
Ruby (my red station wagon) is now 100% MINE! MINE! MINE!
I made the last payment to my boy's mother.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

R.I.P. SPARKLE MONKEY


It is with great sadness that I announce the untimely death of Sparkle Monkey. It happened about a week ago, I forgot to close my studio door + Monk decided that the Sparkle Monkey printing block was a chew toy.

This was one of my first original designs I created when I decided move away from vintage printing blocks. I have decided not to try + recreate the block + to move on.

There are still a few postcard sets + cards available in my Etsy shop.

Monday, July 7, 2008

CAMP OUT



High price of gas got you down? Rent the super campy B-movie
Blood Car
(or at least watch the trailer)
We pretty much laughed the entire time + whole heartily recommend it. OK, it's a bit gorey (the word "blood" is in the title), but in an intentionally cheesy way.

WE NEED MORE 3-DAY WEEKENDS!

With our canoe strapped to the top of the car, we drove the back roads of TN + AL to my boy's family vacation cabin for 3 days of 4th of July fun + relaxation.

I got my bike back from the shop + today will be the inaugural ride to work. I'm a little sore from water skiing yesterday, but it's going to be good.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

TAGGED!

As if she did not already have enough to do with her big move, downsizing + creating super-fabulous art, Ashley @ Kitty Genius tagged me with a questionnaire, so here it goes...

*PHOTOS TO BE POSTED*
*WHEN I GET BACK IN TOWN*


What I was doing 10 years ago:
I just moved in with my boy, we were spending our last month in L.A. (2 blocks from the beach, in Hermosa) before moving to TN. We both had a list of all the things we wanted to do in L.A. before we left, see Watts Towers, eat at The Pantry, VERY L.A. -type things.

What is on your to-do list today (in no particular order)?
Pack for 3 days at the vacation cabin in Alabama.
Go to the grocery store for provisions.
Not rush things. It's been a crappy week for both of us, I want to enjoy these 3 days + relax!

Snacks I enjoy:

Annie's Cheddar Bunnies!!!!!!!

Things I would I do if I was a billionaire:
Buy tons of Annie's Cheddar Bunnies!!!!!!!!
Buy those solar panels I've been looking at online.
Build the container house my boy + I are dreaming about.
Make sure people I love are taken care of.
Contribute to non-profits or maybe start a foundation of some sort. I'm not sure for what for, there are too many people, places + things in need of financial assistance.

Places I have lived:
Arcadia, Culver City, Topanga, Woodland Hills, Chatsworth, CA.
Madison, WI.
Murfreesboro, TN.

Jobs I have had:
An array of retail jobs
2 years at a talent agency
7 years in the areas on mental health + mental retardation

I tag all of you! (if you want to play)
AND for everyone celebrating The 4th of July, be safe!

Monday, June 30, 2008

*TRYING* TO USE WHAT I ALREADY HAVE

My necklaces have been in a jumble. I've been looking for hooks, forgetting I bought these years ago from a blacksmith at a crafts fair.

We are experiencing our first pest infestation...ants! Using a mixing bowl to collect kitchen scraps for the compost was attracting ants so I had to break down + buy one of these bins at Cost Plus World Market.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

NO SUN ON A SUNDAY (TODAY THAT'S A GOOD THING)

This morning Monk + I went for an hour walk + want to go for another. It's 75 degrees, overcast + drizzling, perfect walking weather. We'll go in a bit, but first I want to work on a shop update + listen to Wait Wait.

There are a few Step Inside This House prints left over from The Book Babes' original artwork exchange. I sold one to a friend who bought it for a songwriter friend.

The Lives of Others is due back to the library today + I have not watched it yet. The other night I had a dream Jimmy Carter worked at the library + we talked about Ralph Nader + recycling.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

THINGS WE LOST IN THE MOVE + GLORY DAYS AHEAD!

Somewhere in a yet-to-be-unpacked box are the keys to the bike lock.
So we took a grinder to the lock + released our bikes!

~Before~

~After~

Yay! Then we walked my bike to our local bike shop for new road tires (the old off-road tires were an bad shape, hence our walking the bike) + a tune-up. After several years of commuting (both in Nashville + L.A.) I am finally in a position to bike to work via our town's greenway. I live at one end + my office is 5 miles away on the other end.

The bike shop was booming + many people are buying retro-cruisers for commuting around town (I fell in love with the Electra Amsterdam). Last night we ate dinner at a local pizza place + saw some of the guys from the shop getting food for an all-nighter, working to get through the back log of repair orders.
Our town is becoming much more bike friendly.

My boy + I were out of our skins excited when Bruce Springsteen announced the last leg of his world tour + Nashville was on the schedule.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

THE SPRING ST. MALL

Ed Begley, Jr. called it "recycling in your own neighborhood" + some guy on Cragslist/ Nashville referred to it as "giving back to the community." In my neighborhood our friend calls curb-side recycling The Spring St. Mall.

There are actually 2 well-traveled streets around my house that are ripe with curb-side finds. If I go for a walk + call my boy he automatically answers, "where are you + do I need to bring the truck?"

Curb-side finds I have previously shown in other posts.

Items available at The Spring St. Mall as of this afternoon.

Blue chair (no longer avail.), futon +
a small dog crate (no longer avail).

Metal shelf (no longer avail.). Someone already picked up the lawn mower.

What was your best curb-side find?

UPDATE: As of 7:45 this morning 3 of the above items were (no longer available), which is the beauty of this system of disposal!

Monday, June 23, 2008

WHAT TO DO WITH A CURB SIDE FIND

Mariss @ Vanillabean Knits left a comment wondering what I was going to do with the big wooden table I found on the curb. In addition to putting it in my backyard + eating lunch on it everyday, I'm using it as a backdrop for my Etsy photos. Yesterday I worked on my first post-move Etsy update + it feels good to be able to update with new items, created in our new home.

These are my Partridge cards and postcards, inspired by a vintage dress I bought with a Bavarian-esque fabric. Actually, the dress was hideous + I refashioned it into a skirt I love + have long thought the images would make great linocuts.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

WHY YES, THAT IS EAU DE COMPOST YOU SMELL

As you can tell I am obsessed with my garden + all things fresh + yummy. I spent the better part of the morning digging up more grass + finally planting the winter squash + new potatoes. I have a friend who says "I don't go to church on Sundays, I go to my garden."

Monk would like you to know that a bunny was in our back yard today. He spent 30 minutes making sure the whole neighborhood knew that a bunny was in our back yard + also trying to figure out where the bunny went. Answer: far far away from the barking dog.

After everything is planted (I still have kale, spinach, beans + salad mix) I'll need to build a critter-proof fence.

Our friend's plumb trees are producing beautiful, sweet plumbs. AND I found out a co-worker has a chicken farm. Organic, free range eggs for $2.00 a dozen! I have to put in my order a week in advance because she's selling eggs as fast as her chickens are laying them.

Shop update this evening... must get to work on that.

p.s. I'm STILL singing Little Boxes (on the hill side/ little boxes made of ticky-tacky).

Saturday, June 21, 2008

FOLK FEST

Saturday evening we decided to check out some performances at our town's annual Folk Fest + I'm so glad we did because I smiled the entire time.

First we saw the German group, from The Black Forrest region, who sang traditional folk songs. Luckily we bumped into a German friend who told us that all the songs were hiking songs he was taught when he was young. At that moment I really wish I knew them so I could sing them on hiking trips.

One member of the group explained that there were a lot of cows in their region + they made music on cow bells, which made my German friend mutter "please don't play Edelweiss" several times. They didn't, but the skill involved was quite amazing.

Next was a local clogging group called The Cripple Creek Cloggers who danced traditional Appalachian folk + square dances.

Here is where it got fun...The dancers pulled people out of the audience + we were chosen. Initially I was completely freaked out, but as the dance progressed I was having so much fun. My boy snapped the above photo as I was doing a solo dance with my partner. Hezza, you should have been there!

This photo is for Beth. The ladies dresses were all quilted by hand.

All that was so much fun, but my favorite performers were the Indian dancers. They were young children who danced, sang + played the instruments. Oh! their dresses were so beautiful + they had such tremendous enthusiasm.

Just another reason to love our little neighborhood.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

FARMER'S MARKET

First visit of the year.

I'm wild about tomatoes at the moment (not store bought, yucky salmonella ones) + can't wait for "The Heirloom Tomato Guy" to bring his out. He buys his seeds from Seed Savers. I bought all my seeds from Baker Creek.

I also got my water barrels set-up. I had one under the gutter spout, but here is the *key* if you are going to get your barrels from a bottling plant...WASH THEM OUT COMPLETELY! My barrel still had syrup residue, which I thought I had completely cleaned out, but because of the small opening it did not drain completely. This requires you to cut a larger hole in the top. Not doing this resulted in 55 gals of rain water mixed with syrup residue, which congealed + smelled like Sprite(?). Not good for plants or a vegetable garden at all!
A few cups of white vinegar, water + scrubbing did the trick.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

LAST NIGHT

Sitting on the porch, with Monk, before a storm.

Monday, June 16, 2008

FLORES

(vase by Susan Smith)
I love these thistles that grow along the roads + in fields.
One man's weed...

I spent Sunday with a friend who recently returned to Nashville + we went to The American Artisan craft show to see Beth.
This flower, made from recycled metal, made me happy.

Actually, I needed to get out of the house because I'm watching too much TV since we got cable installed! 6 episodes of Weeds + 2 episodes of Californication in one sitting.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

BUSY BEE, BUZZ, BUZZ

During the past couple weeks, after we returned from vacation +
while keeping a watchful eye on Monk, I was busy with
non-LALA dex related activities.

Thrift store finds


Another curb-side find from my neighborhood,
dried-on huckleberries included.

This is the beginning of my garden- 2 rows of heirloom tomatoes, Great White, Brandywine + Cherokee Purple. 9 of the 10 plants survived the transplant + 1 watermelon. I'm trying to get some arugula (wild rocket!), salad mix, spinach + kale started. My mother just called me to tell me about this LA Times article about no-dig gardening. Being that I don't have a tiller + digging takes ALL DAY...it looks like a great way to go.

*Attempting* to bake bread. This is a whole wheat, flax seed concoction that needs a little tweaking.

Catching-up on Weeds (the opening song Little Boxes is my current earworm!), Dexter + Californication via On-Demand
Watching my vote for THE BIGGEST MOVIE MESS EVER!
It's too bad because the book was so good.

Swing dancing the night away at a benefit for On The Fifth Day,
a local animal sanctuary.

ON THE BEATEN PATH crafts show

Last Saturday was the 1st ON The Beaten Path crafts fair (the summer event) which is the counterpart to the OFF The Beaten Path studio tour (the fall event).

The show was held in a new park off the town square in Smithville, TN. The idea was to gather all the artists who participate in the Off The Beaten Path tour in one place so that shoppers don't have to travel over hill + dale to reach us.

When I assembled stock for The Book Babes' group booth I realized that I had more than I thought- how often does that happen? Group booths can be difficult to set-up, but with all the events we have done over the years, I think we have our "look" down.

~The park was beautiful~
~The event went well~
~There will be a 2nd annual ON The Beaten Path crafts show~

If my last post was about snow...this one is about SWELTERING HEAT! When your conversations turn to bottles of water drunk vs. amount of times you have gone to the bathroom, you know that keeping cool + hydrated is a huge issue.

One vendor remedied everyone's heat issues with cold watermelons cut with his chair making tools.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

BACKTRACKING + RESUMING

One year ago the plan was to summit Palisades Glacier, but various life events prevented everyone from preparing for the hike. It all worked out because what we found on our camping trip was snow...lots of snow! Snow that would have prevented us from completing the hike. Not the vacation we planned, but it really was beautiful. 5 days, 4 nights without running water, flush toilets or heat. What we did have was lots of wool, technical clothing, good camping food + lots of family. AND of course...the quiet sounds of nature.

We hiked into the Muir Widerness to the Chaney Cabin. It was the vacation home of Lon Chaney + now it's a ranger station + a great rest stop for weary hikers.

We also spent a day in Cerro Gordo, the wealthiest silver mine in Ca. during the 1800's, now a privately owned ghost town. It's tucked away in a mountain canyon + we had to drive through clouds + hail on a 1-lane steep road to get there. My dad narrated as he drove + I freaked out! None of the structures were completely visable because of the clouds, so erie.

The American Hotel, built in 1871

Drinking root beer + cozying up to the wood burning stove
inside the hotel.

SO that's what I did on my summer vacation.
Next post...last weekend's craft show.
***
Thank you for your comments regarding Monk.
It's been 1 week, 2 days since his last seizure + normal life is resuming.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

I WAS NOT EATEN BY A BEAR...

We returned from our wonderful + relaxing vacation a week ago, but this past week has been anything but wonderful + relaxing. Real life has gotten in the way of blogging, unfortunately.

A few months ago Monk was diagnosed with Epilepsy + it has been a struggle find a treatment plan that both benefited him + that we felt comfortable with. After we returned from vacation + after he had gone 2 months without having a seizure, he had nine in a 36 hr period. Needless to say, we have been stressed, have not slept, but found a vet that we really trust + who is very knowledgeable in this area. We are hopefull about the new treatment plan.

Tomorrow I am participating in the On the Beaten Path crafts show with The Book Babes. Given the events of this past week I am actually more prepared than I thought I would be + I'm really looking forward to seeing all my crafts friends.

I will return with pictures of us camping IN THE SNOW, the beginning stages of the garden I unexpectedly started because of a generous gift of 10 heirloom tomato plants + of this weekend's show.

Be well.
Kiss your dogs + cats!
Have a wonderful weekend.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

TRIP PREPARATIONS

One's perspective on leaving one's home changes drastically when that home is owned + not rented.

A friend is taking care of Monk, but we have also hired a pet-sitter. Perhaps the most decadent thing we have ever done, but decadent in an extremely practical way.

I also read about this string watering drip system + have all my potted herbs set-up with strings just in case it does not rain.

Show preparations are not as far along as I would like them to be, but my boy + I need a vacation so I'm going to put it out of my mind (LALA dex stuff is supposed to be fun, not stress).

Where we are going there will be no radio or cell phone reception + no computers or TV.

5 days of quiet is in our immediate future.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

FANTASTIC REALITIES (+ a word on recycling)

I had a painting teacher who gave us an assignment to collect fantastic realities + it's an assignment I have continued for over 10 years.

Because recycling is so important to me I set-up bins wherever I frequent~ work, the dojo where we take Ju-jitsu classes. In addition some friends + co-workers bring me their recycling so I can add it to mine + take it to the city recycling center (we don't have curb side pick-up here). As you might imagine, the station wagon really comes in handy.

Today I took a car-load of paper, plastic, aluminum, steel + corrugated cardboard from 5 different sources to the recycling center + when all was said + done I found this tiny origami crane in my car.

I have no idea which of the 5 sources the crane came from, but I'm definitely adding it to my collection of fantastic realities.

DANCIN' FOOLS

Despite being SO tired that I could have died, we went Latin dancing on Friday night. The Swing dance teachers are taking the summer off, so it's 8 weeks of Salsa + Cha-Cha, although I prefer Merengue!!!!!

Despite being SO tired that I could have died, we went Latin dancing AGAIN on Saturday night. Much to my happiness, they mostly played Merengue songs. THEN we went with some friends to a country barn dance. I don't really like Country Music (I prefer Western, + yes, there is a difference) but gave it one try + my boy gave it three tries. My native Tennessee friends joke about me not being allowed back in California.

AND despite being SO tired that I could have died, we went to IHOP after all that dancing. I realized that I had not been in a place like that past midnight since High School (we always ended up at Denny's or Canter's).

Today I am a printing fool. With 2 weeks until my next crafts show (+ one of those weeks on vacation) I'm busting tail trying to pull it all together. Luckily I'm in a group booth with The Book Babes + don't have the pressure of filling an entire space.

(the photos were taken around my neighborhood + obviously have nothing to do with the post)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

IN ONE WEEK...

...WE WILL BE HERE

IN ONE WEEK + ONE DAY...

...WE WILL BE HERE

*
SO much to do in the meantime

Monday, May 12, 2008

LOTS OF GOOD STUFF

The press is in the studio + I'm printing again.
I'm so jazzed about this new design.

Dear, sweet Ambika @ (Into) The Fray sent me house warming coasters + she remembered my love of sage-y green! I will insist that everyone uses them when they come over,
"um..PLEEZE put that drink on a coaster!!!"

We have been watching a dove family on our porch this past month. She's sitting on her 2 babies.

And Monk has officially become an old man in his lawn chair.
Now if we could just teach him to wave.

Goodnight, I'm off to continue reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle + dream about starting a garden next spring.

Monday, May 5, 2008

OH! HOW IT RAINED ON FRIDAY...

...then the sun came out + it was a beautiful weekend!

This year's TACA Spring fair got off to a wet start, but we made it through tornado watches on Fri. (we were told to leave) + came back on Sat. to a glorious weekend filled with old friends + new friends. Beth spent Saturday with me showing off the amazing engineering of her tabletop platen press + printing pine cones. OK truth be told, we did not get much done.

AND she brought Lotta Prints to further distract me. I did manage to complete a carving + make some prints. I'll print cards + postcards this month for sale.
Sunday was really busy + I got to speak with many interesting people who were learning about letterpress, had worked in printing, or who needed some help figuring out where to start with basic printing.
Thank you to all my wonderful friends who came out to say hi!

THEN there were the purchase, trades + really generous gifts from other vendors at the show

This print is by Lisa @ made by one girl, who is super cool + super nice. She is primarily a book binder with a great aesthetic.

If Susan Smith lived near me I would want to hang out with her. Beth + I pretty much freaked out when we walked into her booth because we wanted EVERYTHING. I came home with a dish + a vase. She has an Etsy shop + a blog.

(L) A tile by a local potter named Amy, which I'm thinking of incorporating into a back splash in the kitchen.
(R) MORE! MORE! MORE! felted bracelets made by Breanna Rockstad-Kincaid

(L) A wonderful gift from the very generous Teresa Hayes, who is ALWAYS so good to me.
(R) I decided to start accumulating good wooden cooking utensils + bought with this poplar spatula. OOH, it feels so good to touch.

Heather (whose camera was stolen + can't post for the time being) came by + channeled Little Edie Beale in Teresa's scarf.

(L) I met the sweetest student named Jeni, who is working with a friend of mine at The Appalachian Center for Craft + who traded me these lovely silver + pearl earrings. Susan + Ambika have inspired me to wear earrings again.
(R) This necklace makes me so verrrrry happy. It was given to me by Asia Mathis whose sculptures leave me speechless.

I have a zillion + 1 things going on in May, but the main thing is getting ready for my first selling show since November AND I HAVE NO STOCK!
I'll be super busy in my new, wonderful studio this month. Ah! it feels good to get settled.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

'ROUND THE YARD

Two weekends ago we went to the Watertown town-wide yard sale + came away with nearly everything on our wish list including a push mower ($20.00!) for all the grass on our property (what an amazing upper body work-out). Next year we want to plant an organic vegetable garden, but until then we have started a compost + we'll rely on friends who already have theirs planted. Tomorrow morning I am going to Coca-Cola, in Nashville, to pick-up a few 55 gal plastic barrels for the rain water collection system we are installing. We have so many plans + we have to pace ourselves because there just are not enough hours in the day, but it all makes me SO very happy.

We have recently been the beneficiaries of random acts of kindness.
First act: Someone trimmed the edge of our front lawn! I have no idea who to thank.
Second act: I found these dirt balls on my front porch, which are actually filled with wild flower seeds- plant- water- watch them grow! I figured it was from one of two friends + when one of them turned red when I asked if she was a "flower fairy" I knew who to thank this time.

Have you seen In The Realms of The Unreal? You should.

AND this weekend Beth + I are going to play dueling presses in the demo tent at the Spring TACA crafts fair. I'll have my proof press + Beth is bringing the table-top lever press she got for X-mas.
Come out + say hi if you are in the area.
I'll have photos on Monday.
It's only Wednesday, but have a great weekend!

Sunday, April 27, 2008

HERE'S TO GOOD [BLOG] FRIENDS

I'm spending another Sunday morning at Panera with my laptop because we did not get the cable/internet installed yesterday. We don't have jacks in the wall + did not want to go the "quick + dirty" route of drilling holes in the hardwood floor, so we are drilling holes in the wall + will have to reschedule installation. In the meantime...it's yummy food + free Wi-Fi at Panera!

Yesterday I received a package from Marissa @ Vanillabean Knits + my boy had to tell me not to cry!

I first became a fan of Marissa when I saw that she was knitting her own French market bags + she sent me two for a house warming gift! But that's not what made me tear up, it was her card. She also does pen + ink/ watercolor drawings + she drew our house based on my blog posts.


I also received a package from Amy @ Papa Studios + let me tell you that my blog could easily become an Amy fan site! We share a mutual appreciation for 50's kitch (+ Social Distortion) + when I saw her Pee Wee print, with an obscure quote from Pee Wee's Big Adventure, well that sealed the deal in terms of my admiration.

As you know, everything looks better in person that on blogs or on Etsy + when I actually got to study the details of Amy's carving + registration I was in awe! Seriously, I have to take a trip to Atlanta + meet her.
THANK YOU MARISSA + AMY!

I need to get back into regular posting + communications + plan on stopping by Panera more than once a week until we get internet at the house.

THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND THESE 2 MONTHS!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

YAY!

We are scheduled to have cable (with internet) installed Saturday morning between 8 and 11. As my boy said, "it's been really nice," but we will resume service because NBA playoffs are under way, I miss keeping up with all of you + I do love falling asleep with Jon Stewart every night!

See y'all on Saturday.

Sunday, April 13, 2008