angry chicken

paper love part 2

Penny rugs and paper cutting were in my head at the same time the last few weeks. I think I am trying to figure out a way to combine the two in my head. Some sort of felt cut on a penny rug as if it were paper. . .I haven't worked it out yet. And I may not. Regardless, I am super excited to just be experimenting with the good ol' paper/knife thing right now--the wool felt version can wait. I drew and cut this last night with an x-acto, not enough light, and some green tea. And my glasses, which I have really been needing lately. I used to only wear them at work and then crafting and then not at all, and now I can't seem to read anything or sew without them. Everyone assumes they are fake. Why? I don't know. Not like I see anyone anyway, but I think it's funny how many people assume that. Or maybe that says more about me. Do people think I would be the type to wear fake glasses? I guess so. Which makes me sound sort of lame, huh? Or theatrical, anyway.

Anyhoo, I am digging this big time and I want to do more. This is addicting. I was a bit too excited to stop and change the blade, so this was cut with only one and you can tell. I drew this really fast and I really like the irregular look. It's definitely easier to just design/draw these yourself--it saves the step of transferring a pattern. The red is just regular old text weight paper here. It was cut from an 8 1/2" x 11 sheet folded longways. I think I will frame it, but I am not even sure what I will do with it. I think several of these would be really nice reduced way down and made into note cards too. Or printed/screened on fabric. Oh, that's the ticket!!

a very short list of paper cutting inspirations and research:

-this book cover seen on Amanda's side bar

-amazing amazing amazing work by Robert Ryan (via ~>O<~) that sarah sent me links to at least 3 times.

-this paper cutting book I got from the library

-incredible paper cutting blog (with great tips!)

And. . . this is the last day of November so I am done posting everyday! I really didn't go the whole month with a post-a-day because I started on the 6th or something, but after that, I did it. Okay, so it was fun, but a bit crazy making. I think it was fun because I knew it was only for the month and I liked feeling like I could post about the most trivial thing ever. But I was getting desperate. I was going to write about Q-tips soon. So, back to my normal-ish schedule. Thanks for putting up with my random!

more jen love.

I was alerted by Josie (thanks!) that tiny showcase has a Jen Corace print up right now. I freaked and bought it right away--so surprised it wasn't sold out. It's actually an unlimited edition available through this friday (11/30) to celebrate the opening of the rad sounding craft show, Craftland, that I can't go to because it's across the country from me.

I actually received a postcard version of this print (and got all giddy when it came, you rock, Sarah) but had to buy this print version too, cause, you know, it's Jen Corace. And paper dolls. Good god, could it get any better? And what would I do if she actually made a paper doll book or something? Just die right away? That would be so sad for the girls--for me to have a heart attack over Jen Corace paper dolls. I did not buy an original piece this year by Jen, I opted for a significantly cheaper gift for myself, a desperately needed new winter coat, which is on it's way and better fit, dangit.

Okay, links here:

-Jen's current show at Giant Robot
-tiny showcase jen corace print
-craftland show I can't go to

paper love

I made a bunch of simple blank books for the girls. They are really into dictating stories and coloring. The stories are amazing. I made similar books for Sadie's B-Day goodie bags to give away, but didn't think to make them for us (Duh.) After seeing the stack Amanda keeps on hand, I busted these out, pronto. Genius!! I used old scrap paper I had saved and let them add blank labels. They are all different sizes depending on the size cardstock scrap. Most of these books (filled in by the girls) will be gifts for family and friends, sorry for ruining the surprise. Okay, this is getting hard, not showing stuff we are making for gifts. The smallest books are tucked in my bag for the desperately needed on the road/out of the house/waiting in line/ type entertainment.

I cut and folded these all assembly line style and then just ran them though my sewing machine with a long stitch. Then I tied a double knot and trimmed the thread. The smallest books I stapled.

Here are the books with the stickers I made for Sadie's party. The stickers were drawn freehand, scanned, and colored in photoshop.

These books about bookbinding Amanda posted look very cool, as well as the amazing wooden acorns. Wow. That shop put a dent on my wallet, but in such a good way.

happy baby love!

We have a new niece and are so thrilled!! I love seeing the family grow. Pete's parents now have 5 grandkids in 5 years—not too shabby.

I was gifted these super cute cookie boxes and had to fill them up, you know, with cookies for the new family of four. I had a feeling this surprise baby was going to be a girl—so the pink box it was packed early (not the red) to test myself. Ha! These cookies are a bit big for the box, but I was able to cram in 6 large ones. That little card back there is from my stash of flippin' adorable baby cards. They come with little glassine envelopes and I never see them around (I got my at Spoiled Rotten in Portland) so when I get the chance I snatch them up. I need these stickers!

Nothing like the smell of a day old baby!! Yipeee!

my holiday penny rug

I finished the holiday penny rug that had been taking over my brain. I am really happy with how it came out. It's in wool felt and I made it almost entirely by machine. I know, pretty cheat-y, but dang it, it's not the time for methodical hand sewing right now. I just can't balance this cute baby (who seems to nurses 24/7) on my lap while hand sewing. I can do a lot while nursing, but hand sewing isn't one of them. And when I'm not nursing I am trying to get someone out of pj's.

I made card stock templates, drew around them onto the felt, stitched a blanket stitch by machine (I love my Bernina so much) then carefully trimmed out the shape without trimming the blanket stitch outline. Then I used a combo of hand stitching (so the shapes wouldn't shift) and heat and bond to place them. Lots of steps, but I am really happy with how the process went. It was at times harder doing this by machine then it would have been sewing this by hand, but I was up for the challenge and was dying to use my machine blanket stitch. I was also dying to make this sometime this millennium, which wouldn't have happen if I have stitched by hand, I am sorry to say.

It lives here, in very good company.

sunrise

When I went to get the paper this is what was in the sky.

the pie was yummy

A wonderful Thanksgiving was had by all. Things are slow around here, which is lovely. I need to report that the 1/2 cup or so of frozen raspberries that I added to the apple pie was inspired. I don't know if it was because I hadn't had pie in so long or what, but I swear it was like heaven in my mouth. Really. The tart berries were just perfect with the sweet apples. I may never have straight-up apple pie again. This is the best use raspberries in pies, I am convinced of it.

Okay back to the leftovers. I'm going to make some shepard's pies with the extra mashed potatoes and freeze them. That's the plan anyway.

books I have been reading-

I love that Nick Hornby column in The Believer about books he is reading (or has bought and hasn't read)  and in this last issue he even admitted to starting but not finishing a book. And he never plans on finishing it. I didn't start doing this until a few years ago (Have I already blogged about this??) I decided that if a book is getting on my nerves and I feel like I have given it a fair shake, then I'm done with it. It's so liberating. Almost as crazy as the cereal graveyard. This works best with books from the library, obviously. I put about 5 on hold at a time, pick them up, and usually end up reading 3 or 4 from the bunch. So, here's some random ones. A lot of guilty pleasures here, sorry. My literary tastes have slid lately. I just need my books to be NOT real, you know? I feel like an escape is what I need, not some very intense and emotional tragedy. So, having said that, I did not finish The Kite Runner two summers ago. I know, the horror. I suck. But it was so heavy handed and so. . . well, you know what I mean.

To the Tower Born. I liked this a whole lot. Um, these reviews are going to suck, by the way. It's either a thumbs up or down. This is a big thumbs up. I heart historical fiction a lot.

The Subtle Knife, which is the second in the His Dark Materials series. I loved this. I enjoyed it more than the first, which I also loved. I am scared for the movie of the first one. How can it be good? or as good as the books? They are so brutal. . . I can't imagine the movies capturing the pain in these novels. (boy, I make is sound like a fun read, huh, but they are so good!) Big thumbs up.

The Debutante Divorcee. Okay, this is so fun and so silly and just the best beach read ever. I read it right after I had Liddy when I was tired and so out of it and loved every second of it. Bug thumbs up. (Mildly embarrassed, but why?)

There's more, but I need to save them for this posting everyday thing.

happy thanksgiving!!

I started early today—gingerbread for breakfast. With whipped cream. Glorious. The recipe is from here, and I split the recipe between 2 8" rounds and froze one. It's perfect and not too sweet. This somehow makes it seem good for me. So, that is what I choose to believe.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. —Buddha

soap.

I have been on a pampering kick lately. I don't get out much now-a-days with the babies and all, and when I do, it seems to be only to the grocery store or the library, so I have been trying to do little things for myself that feel good, like buying new red lipstick and other small indulgences.

After looking on etsy at handmade soap (my god, there are so many listings) I decided on these 3 bars by Purusha and wow, oh wow. They are just lovely. The scents are amazing, the bars are the perfect size, they came quickly and wonderfully packaged, and I think I will pick up more for gifts. They are so minimal and wonderful. She provides a ton of info in her shop about how to store them, how they are packaged, and the process that goes into making them, it's a pleasure to read about it all. And now I don't have to contemplate making my own, which I was, until I came to my senses.

And speaking of great packaging-I am in love with this brilliant idea here over at A Little Hut.