angry chicken

new workshop at creativebug—journal of family life

My newest workshop is over at creativebug. This class is a little different than what I have taught before—it's all about /journaling/ record keeping/documenting everday family life in a non-traditional, messy, free-spirited way. It was so fun to do and I sure hope you all dig it. There's a short preview you can see for free right here (click on the image in the link.)

This workshop is available as part of their subscription or as an a la carte option, meaning you can just buy one class at a time. The new a la carte option is available for all my classes now, so if you were holding off because a subscription wasn't the right fit for you, here's another choice. Yippee!

Once again, I feel so lucky to be working with the amazing people at creativebug. Their genuine passion for what they do is so evident in their work.

newspaper, tape, flour, water, salt, paint

We are learning about pirates and Picasso right now. They seem unrelated, and they are, but Picasso did wear black and white striped sailor shirts. The kids love to mash-up subjects. We are also learning about cheese but more about that later. We have checked out more than one book entirely about women pirates. I knew nothing about pirates before now, this has been fascinating for me.

We were making paper mache figureheads (inspired by the ones on pirate ships) and they quickly morphed into something else while we were sculpting. I was working on a mermaid, but after the 2nd and 3rd child started sculpting the balls of newspaper and tape they realized theirs looked more like an elephant and a koala. Picasso re-enters here. My eldest child also made a mermaid, that is still unpainted because she left the activity to get back to her reading, which is the norm around here.

I could make paper mache sculpture and paint it all day long. I haven't felt this specific compulsion since painting rocks. It's the perfect craft blend for me—easy and cheap materials, fun to execute, endless possibilities, and in no way utilitarian.

There was no prep here, I just grabbed newspaper from the table and some tape and started sculpting.

How we made the the forms-

• We took balls of newspaper and crunched and shaped them, securing at various points with masking tape. Some people used more tape than others. We added appendages with more newspaper shapes and tape, or in the case of the elephants ears—thin cardboard taped on.

Then we mixed up paper mache paste-

• 1 cup flour
• 1-1 1/12 cup water
• 1 tbl salt

Mixed forever until it made a thickish paste, not too thin, but not too thick. I'd say about pancake batter consistency. We then cut thin strips of newspaper and wrapped the dipped strips around the shapes, covering the whole thing. This took 24 hours to dry. Then we painted with acrylic paints, I might use a gloss coat on mine, but the other girls insisted on a matte finish.

How am I not going to make huge indoor mushrooms now?

my sweater is done and now I am wearing it

Thank you for all your support this week. We've been feeling a huge internet hug and it's wonderful.

I finished the Toulouse Sweater (here's my project link) a few days ago and I can't tell you how big of a deal this is. It's my first ever knitted sweater. My 3rd attempt. My first sweater attempt was about 13 years ago, when we lived in Seattle and I was super new at knitting (I'm still new) but new enough to not realize how silly it was for me to try a sweater with tiny needles and no real experience. I still have that yarn. Then, about 4 years ago there was another sweater attempt, and it was very sad because I really thought I could do it, I had quite a few knitted projects completed so was full of hope, but after many twisted stitches and needles that were too long and me not knowing what I was doing, it got frogged and that yarn has made all kinds of accessories and I still have some left.

But, then I tried agan. I started this right before we found out about Grammie's cancer and later I felt guilty I wasn't knitting her hats, but at that time we were told she wouldn't need chemo, so off I went, knitting away. The long tie part took forever. Through the holidays and all the issues with Grammie I kept knitting, and it was so therapeutic. Especially because there wasn't a whole lot of thinking involved, just knitting. It was really great, mostly because it was taking so long. It was so nice working with my hands, knowing I wouldn't have to think of another project any time soon. I sewed 3 costumes, a dress for myself, and 2 skirts, and 3 robes with matching eye masks for the girls during this time too but sewing goes so fast, and I needed to come back to the same project over and over again, and this was it.

We are seeing the same people at the chemo center every 2 weeks and they have seen me knitting this, so I'm going to wear it next week. I was getting some grief over the huge armpit holes a guy pointed out to me when we were talking. He was concerned about that, I reassured him I could stitch them up and you wouldn't be able to tell. I plan to show him my armpit next week.

With sewing, I can pretty much visualize exactly what the finished piece will look like and hang like when I see the fabric, but with knitting, the string, or the yarn, is so different than the fabric I make with it—it's really thrilling. I thought I would get sick of the color of yarn, but I didn't at all. I have already cast on for this pattern, which is an entirely different look, hobbit cute, which I'm excited about.

• About making clothes, the Coletterie has an interesting interview with an author about the cheap clothes industry.

• I'm listening to Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, who I saw with the Radiolab tour, loved, then forgot about and then remembered about just now.

• We finally watched the Descendants and loved it in its sad funny way. It also makes me even more excited about a trip to Hawaii we have planned in a few months.

 

from my heart

beeswax photo blocks grammie made and some hard stuff

Beeswax photos grammie made of her parents for me using the workshop over at Creativebug.

So, blogging about big hard issues can tricky for me. It's always a moving target—how I feel (which always changes) and the circumstances around the situation (which also change). The big hard issue happening in our lives right now (let's leave my multiple illnesses and horrible siatica on the sidelines for a bit, although I suspect they are related) is that Grammie, my mom, has breast cancer and is in the middle of a pretty difficult chemo treatment. I have told many friends about this and their stories have helped me so much—so many people go through this and it is so hard.

She was diagnosed right before Thanksgiving and had surgery in mid-December. There has been so much to process along the way. The tests, waiting for the results, the surgery, more waiting for results, the treatment plan, the treatment plan changing, the not knowing. Her team of doctors are wonderful, we feel very lucky, and I have her seeing my acupuncturist which is helping with chemo side affects. I am seeing her, too. We were hoping the chemo wouldn't be so hard on her, but she is getting the strongest one these first 4 treatments, and it's been pretty awful.

The levels of pain and sadness, and just fear, have been pretty overwhelming for me. Grammie is  incredibly brave and strong. I am so lucky to be so close to her, both emotionally and physically. We see her every day and have for years, she is like a 3rd parent to our girls. Pete and I never were super excited to teach our kids about sickness and cancer, but of course it comes up, and I know how important it is to have them see me care for her. And to have them learn to help care for her and to see how we all care for each other. The cleaning, laundry, dishes, the checking in, the homemade cards, and endless kisses and hugs—I have 3 little nurses that are so willing to help and just radiate love to her. It breaks our hearts and is so special to see.

Her cancer has been caught early. We feel great about that. Our friends, both hers and mine, have been so supportive by checking in all the time, feeding us, trying to help in any way they can. My brother and in-laws have helped with the girls while I care for Grammie.

There have been wig jokes and tons of off-color humor. The questions from the girls are hard— but they are brave, and I need to be  at least as brave as they are. There are books that have helped me and I will link to them soon. We still have to get though the chemo treatment (5 left) and the radiation afterward. Many days I feel really good, like we are getting through this and it will be okay, and then sometimes I have felt I was going to explode into dust out of sheer pain or anxiety. But then I don't. This is workable, I experience that every day.

card making goodie bags

We made these card making goodie bags for a Valentine's Day party Delia was having—but then didn't have because I got the norovirus, again! It has only been 6 weeks since my last fight with it. It must have been a different strain. This makes me not super popular with the rest of the population. I feel pretty germ-y. I know my immune system is pretty low right now. And it flared up my back pain again, but I am trying to stay positive. We canceled the party, but a March party has already been planned in its place. My kids are total troopers.

On a better note, I am almost done with the first sleeve of the sweater. I have a huge hole in the armpit but trusted sources assure me this is ok, and stitching it up tight after is not lame. I already have my eye on this vest for a next project. Too hard for me? I'm not sure yet.