Friday, May 30, 2008
new/old pants
So, I had these funky linen pants, and because I can't get rid of anything made from linen, I decided to alter them a little so I'd feel more comfortable in them.However, I didn't have any matching thread. Logically, I should have bought thread, but I like the challenge of trying to make new things using only materials I already have, and therefore opted to use this sea-foam-green thread on my light-army-green pants.
An odd choice, I know. I tried to do a little extra detailing so it might look like the slight color difference is intentional. I wouldn't call it tremendously successful, but I don't hate it either.
It's pretty hard to see in the pictures, but if you see me this summer, there's a good chance I'll be wearing them 'cause that's how I roll when I get excited about a new/old thing.
Daily photo: 5/30/08
Nerves.
Sometime between now and 11:30 a.m. today, I have a phone interview for a job. Let the nausea begin.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Attitude of gratitude.
I started making jewelry and working with metal when I was 12. When I was 13, my Grandpa Asher, who had worked as a machinist, sent me a box. In that box was a wonderland of strange copper pieces and old tools! This impressive selection of calipers is just a fragment of what he gave me, and I still use most of it on a daily basis. Thanks, Grandpa!Daily photo: 5/28/08
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Dead.
OK, she's not really dead...but she is belly-up. Get it?... Belly-up?... I know, I'm hilarious.
Daily photo: 5/27/08
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Calm
After the flurry of activity that was my Memorial Day weekend, as well as some actual storms, there was this lovely blue sky.Daily photo: 5/26/08
Monday, May 26, 2008
The wrap up.
How was the show, you ask? I don't want to talk about it. It was not a money making experience. But it was a good learning experience. And while the Paducah area did not seem able to financially support the 80+ artists filling the streets of Lowertown this weekend, there was no shortage of kindness and hospitality from its residents. I was truly impressed with what the community has done to promote the arts as an integral part of it's civic vision; something it's done so well that even the New York Times took notice. I think it's unlikely that I'll return to the show next year, but I would return to Paducah for a visit anytime (though preferably in the early spring or fall, when it's a little cooler!).
Daily photo(s). 5/25/08
Breezy
Saturday gave my tent and displays a windy work-out. It was discovered that I will need much heavier tent weights!Daily photo. 5/24/08
Thursday, May 22, 2008
This much fabric
can only mean one thing: Craft Show. This weekend I'll be at the Lowertown Art and Music Festival in Paducah, Kentucky. I've never been to Paducah before, but I hear it's nice so I'm looking forward to it. If you happen to be in the area, I hope you'll stop on by! Daily photo: 5/22/08
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Seek, and ye shall find.
My incessant pining has paid off, and today I got a treat when an unexpected package arrived from Farmaesthetics. Thanks, momma! I feel prettier already. Really. I do.
Daily photo: 5/20/08
Monday, May 19, 2008
I am not a jeweler.
But when one of my oldest friends eloped on Leap Day, and I realized that they were the kind of people who would likely do without wedding rings (a thought I can't imagine!!!), I offered to make them some. And so, here are the fruits of my labor, and my first gold castings (second attempt). L and A, I hope you like them! More importantly, I hope they fit...Daily photos: 5/17/08 and 5/18/08
Friday, May 16, 2008
I'm not one
to go on about a store sale, but today, I learned that Steve and Barry's is selling everything in it's stores for $8.98!! (for a limited time, of course). I got this great black dress--made all the greater because it only cost me 9 bucks!
Daily photo. 5/16/08
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The movies.
One of N.'s and my favorite things to do is to go to the movies, especially when it's crappy outside, like today. We saw Iron Man. Definitely hamburger, but entertaining nonetheless. I recommend it as a summer blockbuster.Daily photo. 5/15/08
5/14/08
I'm sort of obsessed with having lots of containers-usually mugs-on my work bench for organization.Daily photo.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Making up with make-up.
I have never been a big fan of make-up but I don't have great skin, so it's a necessary evil. After a recent television news magazine did a show on green living vs. conventional living, I became aware of the chemical preservative used in most make-ups called 'parabens.' Some studies have apparently shown that parabens might act like hormones in our system and I discovered that virtually every cosmetic item I use daily, from shampoo to mouthwash, had them. I'm prepared to believe they are not dangerous, but I figured better safe than sorry (and mostly I'm hoping to improve my skin). So, I decided to try to find a make-up with out them and I settled on this mineral make-up from Afterglow cosmetics. So far, so good.
It was a practical purchase, one I was happy to make, but in my heart of hearts, I always want non-practical cosmetics that make me feel pretty because of their prettiness (read: marketing) and the best site I found for that as I searched for more natural cosmetic products was Farmaesthetics. Anyone, at any time, may feel free to send me the big, beautiful box of everything for $195, though I'd settle for the 5-piece chamomile collection. ;-) A girl can dream...
Daily photo: 5/12/08
Beautiful!
I recently made a trade with a friend of mine from grad school, Miles Rountree, and in this trade, I got this beautiful new necklace and a pair of adorable earrings like these. Thanks, Miles! I love them!!
Monday, May 12, 2008
5/11/08
Breakfast when the weather's too warm for hot oatmeal: oatmeal with milk, honey, walnuts and cinnamon. Daily photo.
5/9/08
Most often used wedding present: salad spinner.Favorite salad dressing at the moment: a homemade mix of low-sodium soy sauce, EVOO, rice vinegar and a dash of wasabi powder.
Daily photo.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
New grocery bag
The winner of my recent contest received, among other things, a grocery bag I made from an old linen skirt with a vintage fabric lining. This is the bag I made from the other half of the skirt, for myself. Sorry, Lace, I kept the half with the pocket. ;-) You understand.
5/6/08
It doesn't look like much, but this was my first ever, and, if may say so, delicious, stuffed pablano pepper I made on Tuesday.
I used a combination of recipes because I had many of the ingredients from the cull-bin at the Co-op and didn't want to have to buy anything but the meat.
So, I boiled 2 pablanos in 1 c. vegetable stock and 1 c. water for 3 min., then cooked 1 c. rice in the same water for 30 min. Meanwhile, I cooked onion, ground beef, garlic and taco seasoning 'til meat was brown and onions were tender. I added the rice, diced roma tomatoes, salt and pepper and cooked about 20 min. more until rice was tender. Then stuffed the peppers and baked at 375 degrees F for another 15 min. Sprinkled with monterey jack cheese and chopped cilantro and served with a cold beer! Yum! N. was suitably pleased.
Daily photo.
Monday-Culinary Delights.
I thought I'd do a week of pictures of my culinary experiments/discoveries, but I didn't have one on Wednesday, so that's out. I am, however, focusing this week, primarily, on what I eat.#1: Peaches and basil simple syrup over ice cream.
I discovered (in my world, at least) this weekend, that fresh basil and fresh peach taste good together. I resolved to make something with them and this is what I came up with.
Things I learned:
-blanch the peaches first. papery skins are not good on ice cream.
-do not cook the basil in the simple syrup, it basically looses all flavor.
-do cook the diced peaches in the syrup (which is 1 part boiling water into which you dissolve 2 parts sugar)
-store the syrup and peaches overnight WITH fresh basil leaves in it, then remove the leaves before use.
I served it over vanilla ice cream, but it seems to me you could do just about anything with it, including (which I haven't tried, but plan to) mix the strained syrup with ice and club soda for a refreshing summer drink!
I know, I'm so clever. ;-)
Daily photo: 5/5/08
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
My mother's Wunderkammer
My mother's home--or live-in cabinet of curiosities, as I like to think of it.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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