Furry Banana

little bear

2006-06-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so finally I am posting some photos of the panda I made for back-tack III.

The five required buttons are as follows... two for eyes, two for leg string joints, and one as a necklace. The intial of my sendee is there, you just can't see it here. I was going to make clothes for this little bear but I honestly just ran out of time. Panda does have a quilt though so I don't feel too bad about the nekkidness.

Here is a pic with matching quilt, I am pretty happy with how it turned out and I have to say that back-tack is about as fun as swaps get. If you have never given it a try I highly recommend giving it a go next year!

lucky bunny

2006-06-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to post photos of the lovely bunny sent to me by Oscarcat since I recieved many days ago...sadly spring has decided to hide behind many layers of cloud cover here in Portland. I have been forced to take photos under less than ideal conditions, but they turned out ok so without furthur ado here is my back tack bunny thank you Katie!

here is bunny posing with presents

I'll post photos of what I made tomorrow!

Teaser

2006-06-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

Well it would appear that I have been an extremely lax blogger lately. What can I say life has been a little crazy lately. I am wrapping up a large mural commission that has taken consiberably longer than I first estimated, house hunting has reached a desperate frenzied pitch, and I am trying to start a business.

Yes yes I know these all could have been opportunities for new blog entries but I just haven't had it in me. Also part of my business is that I will have a new shiny pretty blog on my new website (read not a blogger blog), I will no longer be tied to the irrational whims of technical blogger difficulties! So this has caused me to become more dissatisfied with this blog's aesthetics.

Anyhow I have finished my back-tack softie and I think it turned out pretty well. Full shots will be posted once the little dear has landed in New York city until then you will have to content yourself with this teaser shot.

I recieved my softie from Oscarcat and it is quite wonderful! I will post photos and full details tomorrow when I have some natural light.

may day flowers

2006-05-01T15:16:00.002-07:00

It should come as no surprise that I am a little obsessed with chilhood. Most of the art that I am currently working on is connected to the visual language of childhood.

I have spent a fair amount of time making art with kids. I am reluctant to call it teaching, as really your job around kids is to create an atmosphere of safety, where they can create work as much outside of judgement as possible. Little do they realize that never again will they be able to create art with such freedom, honesty, and abandon.

Oh how I envy them, the quality of their line, the energy of their markmaking. Most of the best art I have seen (2-D) has been created by children.

One of my favorite drawing activities to force children to do (they are often reluctant to give it a try) is blind contour drawing. You give them some objects and some india ink and a brush, and you instruct them to draw the outline of the object without looking at their paper. They moan and groan but damn if they don't make some stunningly beautiful drawings.

So I have been thinking for awhile maybe I should make a series of my own blind drawings. Only I will think of a drawing in my head and create it without looking, or look at a photo and recreate the photo without looking. I finally gave it a go today here is the photo I worked from (sorry it sucks, it is a photo of a photo) Below it is the blind drawing.

I'm not sure where this is going yet, but I'm really loving letting go of the control that I tend to assert over my drawing and painting. It is actually easier for me to make something that is very controlled, lets hear it for freedom!

It's a sweet potato miracle!

2006-04-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Last night I was making my new favorite recipe, sweet potato quesadillas, when as I was peeling I realized that the sweet potato i was peeling looked just like a bird. Well, I realized right away that it was an important sign maybe even a minor miracle, I knew that I was being sent a divine message to give the people of the world my sweet potato quesadilla recipe(seriously it is quite tasty, economical, and vegetarian!).

Actually I have to admit that someone made these for me a few months ago and I simply figured out the recipe on my own, as it is quite simple.

Sweet Potato Quesadilla
(serves 3-4)

Ingredients:
6-8 large flour tortillias
2-3 medium sweet potatoes (or maybe you call them yams)
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
grated cheese of your choice (I like TJ's basque shepheard's sheep, or a good jack but use whatever you want)
4T fresh cilantro
1tsp oil or nonstick skillet

1 recipe Guacamole (follows after SWQ)
1 recipe fresh salsa (follows after SWQ)

Peel your sweet potatoes, cut them into roughly 1" cubes. Put your cubed sweet potato into a small covered saucepan with the 1cup of stock (you can use water), bring to a boil and cook about 15 minutes, make sure you do not boil off your liquid, add more as neccessary. Meanwhile make your salsa and guacamole,and open your can of black beans and rinse until water runs clear. Poke the potatoes with a knife to see if they are done, they should be soft! You should have some leftover liquid, don't drain it! Mash it with the potaotes (extra flavor). Gently stir the black beans and cilantro into your mashed potato. Lightly oil your skillet (or use nonstick) and turn your burner to med-high heat. When it is hot but not smoking, place 1 flour tortillia in pan, sprinkle evenly across your grated cheese and then spread an even amount of the sweet potato mixture over the entire surface ( should be about half an inch thick or more). Place another tortillia on top flip it, let the other side brown, take it out,repeat, cut, and serve, yummy. (if you are making them all at once preheat your oven to 300F and transfer your finished quesadillas to the prewarmed oven so that everyone has a hot dinner)

So these are pretty good but they are even better if you make fresh guacamole and salsa to go with them. Now I'm sure that most people have their own favorite recipes for these two lovelies but I'm providing the two that I have come up with over many years of refinement, in case you don't have a favorite or in case you want to try someone else's interpretation.

Some of the quantities are general, use the smaller amount first, taste it and if it needs more add more! everyone has slightly different tasterbuds.

Guacamole

ingredients:

two ripe avocados
Juice from 1-2 lemons (1 will do if its a juicy one)
2T fresh cilantro
1T chile powder
2-3 tsps cumin seed
lots of salt (to taste)

Dry toast your cumin seeds on the stove top until they have darkened in color and start to smell toasty. Grind your cumin to the consistency of fine cornmeal in a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder dedicated to spices (you can substitute preground cumin but it won't be the same). Ok now mash all your ingredients together with a fork (or food processor) until your guacamole is smooth.

Salsa

Ingredients:

1 16 ounce can crushed tomatoes
3-4 green onions
lots of fresh cilantro at least 4T and up to 8T
juice of 1-2 lemons or limes
1 fresh serrano chile
2-3T chile powder
3-4tsps freshly ground & toasted cumin seeds(see guacamole recipe above)
lots of salt
and if you like it hot add small amounts of cayenne until it is the heat you want

It is easiest to just put all of these ingredients in a food processor and go. Start with the green onions, cilantro and serrano pepper, pulse 4-5 times. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until fully combined.

You can do this without a food processor, just cut all ingredients as finely as possible and mix together in a bowl, stir to combine. When tomatoes are in season I use fresh instead of canned.

Now you know what to have for dinner...tomorrow.

hey big spender!

2006-04-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Big spender that's me, yes it is. Now lookie what I spent it on.

I attended the auction for the very small school where my husband teaches 5th and 6th grade. It's a Waldorf inspired school which apparently equals very cool auction. I spotted the felting kit and boy I was on it, if anyone was taking it home it was for sure gonna be me. It was a little touch and go the last sixty seconds but I shamelessly shamed the parent that kept out bidding me (a little low I know, but man I had to have it). Here are some photos of what I've already made with the glorious roving I won, you can also see some of the fabric beads in action.

I also won the coolest kid art project. The 1st and 2nd grade made insect mobiles sculpted out of colored beeswax for the auction. I won one of the butterfly mobiles, I haven't been able to get a good photo yet so no pics, you have to use your imagination.

To change the subject slightly I am a participant in Back-Tack III I really didn't think I would make the sign-ups in time, needless to say I am over the moon that I am participating... so this is just to say expect more back-tack related posts to come.

forced buds

2006-04-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

I don't have much to say about these fabric beads, have been slaving over them and I only have around forty. Here is a grouping of a few of them.

I have big plans for these little guys, yes indeed. However the plan involves several hundred more. Where is your granny sweatshop when you need it (just kidding). These will soon be transformed into lovely earrings, the grand plan will have to wait for a larger stockpile. Sigh, sweatshop of one...coming right up!

Green ring queen

2006-04-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

Oh look another green post. I've got a bit of a thing for green right now, and I've had a thing for rings for as long as I can remember. In fact I even spent three years of my life learning how to make rings (with metal) but now I make them out of fabric and beads, and elastic, and pretty much out of anything except metal. Witness below, a recent creation that needs a little refining but I think I may be making a bunch of these. Although I am a little dubious that anyone other than myself would willingly wear such an obtrusive impractical ring.

I also collect rings made by others. I discovered the site for cool rings not metal ,Carrotbox, a few months ago and have been addicted ever since. I purchased one of her early handmade glass rings for a steal. She has ,understandbly, raised her prices but her handmade glass rings are still very affordable and worth every penny. I love mine, it is white and what else...green of course!

Even though I am a grown somewhat adult-like woman I can't help but adore childlike cheap candy jewelry. I have gobs of it and I like it better than the real thing, way better. Each to their own I say. Found this little lovely for fitty cents at goodwill, sweet.

Thrifty 60's luck

2006-04-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well spring has gone to my head a bit, in Oregon we all start to get a little crazy when the sun finally reappears. Like masses of the undead we wander outside in a trancelike daze. Well my spring dazes have been taking me to the thrift store (like I don't go every week already...shhh)I have discovered that spring is excellent thrift hunting season, unlike me, everyone else in Portland is purging and spring cleaning while I simply continue to amass. I have been scoring loads of amazing 60's dress patterns, here is one I have already started working on. I am making it up in a lovely medium green vintage linen.

And to go along with my knitting fever I found some Vogue Knitting magazines from 1960...score! I know it isn't knit but I think I might die if I don't find some polka dot fabric like this and make a similar dress immediately, it is so darling I can hardly stand it!

Inside are many drool-worthy patterns including the white number on the bottom with the applied crochet flower pot. I think I would make it up in navy. Oh and I am not a fan of horizontal stripes (they make us shorter folk look even shorter)but boy these are some lovely specimens.

I have also been finding great pieces of vintage fabric in several yard lengths (I did something to make the thrift fairy very happy). Here are two of my favorites just because they are so bright and so garish.

Well it is another beautiful sunny day today so enough time in front of the computer, I am off for a spring walk.

Green Wednesday

2006-04-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

thrifted green
Originally uploaded by Good Egg.

I thought I would get in on some of this color fun! I found this set of green glasses at a salvation army in Pasadena CA. I just couldn't resist the combination of fern and ginko leaves (and really, why resist?)

Speaking of household objects...my house is currently in a state that can only be described as hoo-ra nest like (a hoo-ra is a mythical southern bird which primarly takes up residence in messy hair or in this case just a giant house-sized mess)
However, this is no ordinary mess born from lack of desire to clean, no my friends, this is a mess with purpose this is a mess that is all business. Craft business that is. The entire house has been rearranged in order to accommodate a larger workspace for me and my tiny sprout of a crafty venture. I am still in the teetering pile sorting stage, but I am hoping to soon progress into the orderly useable workspace stage, wish me luck!

Everything is wonky

2006-03-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

stump prototype
Originally uploaded by Good Egg.

I am finally rounding the bend back to the land of health and wellness. I came down with a very nasty cold that turned out to be quite a clingly little bugger. Thus I have done nothing in about a week, unless you count reading on the sofa in between bouts of coughing, hacking, and sleeping. Sheesh do I sound like a baby or what? Anyhow here is my first attempt at the stump pattern I made a few weeks ago. It still has some issues I hope to iron out this weekend. I would like to finish this in time for my April critique group. But even a healthy start would be nice, I would like this to be larger than any of my other soft sculptures to date. More progress coming soon!

Corduroy Tadpole

2006-03-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

tadpole1
Originally uploaded by Good Egg.

The stumps are coming along but still need some fine tuning, so in the meantime here is my tiny tadpole. I see a school of these in the near future.

Stump Patterns

2006-03-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

Good Egg.

I've had the idea for this sculpture for awhile, and I finally started to develop some of the pattern pieces for it yesterday. I'm planning to make the whole thing out of denim, but I think that there is still a missing element, I'll have to think about that. Sometimes just starting a project sparks new ideas.

Stamens into Flowers

2006-03-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87006177@N00/110220184/">
href="http://www.flickr.com/people/87006177@N00/">Good Egg.

I often come up with new ideas simply through stumbling onto a new material in a thrift store which I would normally not seek out or use. I found an entire tin full of unused flower stamens at my favorite thrifstore in Southern California (how I miss the Bargain Box!). Since then I have been making lots of yarn flowers. Here is a completed project using the yarn flowers, a corsage cuff. I've made about a half dozen of these, I'm debating as to whether I want to put them up in my empty Etsy shop or find a local boutique to carry them. Decisions, decisions.

Something Old

2006-03-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

nice day
Originally uploaded by Good Egg.

I had my monthly critique group meeting last night and it went better than I expected. It was our first evening of looking at work and offering feedback. I'm feeling a tad rusty with the whole critique process as it has been nearly four years since I graduated art school. Having said that I'm so thrilled to make new work and recieve honest opinions from a large group of peers. I have to get busy as I volunteered myself for next month, so I should have some new stuffed work up here over the following weeks.
The photo is one of the pieces that was in the Plush You show organized by Kristen Rask of Schmancy. I will be participating in Plush You 2 as well, how exciting!

Allo! Allo!

2006-02-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

I am experiencing creative overload. SO this blog will be a place to keep track of my many (too many?) projects. Currently making lots of softies, clothing, accessories, knitwear and sculpture. I'm always starting a new project (but not always finishing...) I need to work on the completion aspect.
Perhaps it will all seem less random gathered into one place.