The Violet Raven

Creepy Cute

2009-06-22T19:18:00.001-07:00

This is Megan Doll. She is the first of my new dolls for the shop. These dolls just steal my heart! I really like things that are cute but also a little creepy. I had made one just for fun and to try out some other things and I loved her so much that I decided to make more to put up in the shop. This one was inspired by my mom who likes the color combination of red and purple. I was looking at my yarn as we were talking about this new red and purple hat she got herself when my eyes fell on this lovely red and a small ball of purple right next to it. Megan doll was born. I call her "Momma doll" to myself but I had to use my mom's real name to post her as I am sure the name "Momma Doll" conjures up an entirely different picture! :D I hope you love these new creepy cuties as much as I do.

Happy Monday!

HAHA!

2009-06-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

I was going to post a picture of my newest batch of cake balls when I realized they would look no different from the other ones because this batch is coated in chocolate as well! HAHAHA!
Also wanted to let you know that Black Victorian Bear is now available in the shop and, hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to unveil my new project for the shop!

Update!

2009-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

Blue Victorian Bear is now in the shop so hop on over and check out her and her friends. Also I couldn't wait any longer and I made a new batch of cake balls. I found strawberry cake on sale so instead of my original idea of coconut cake and strawberry frosting it is now the other way around. No pictures yet because the balls are hardening to make dipping them easier. Happy middle of the week! Only two days left until the weekend.

Victorian Times

2009-06-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

Even though I have not posted any new bears, etc. for awhile, I have been making stuff. I have just been a bit lazy in the photo shoots done and the uploads. Here are the two Victorian Bears. They were a lot of fun to make and I do love them so! I will be posting them in the shop sometime this week.
I have some other new projects that I have been working on and let me tell you I like 'em! I hope you all like these two cuties as much as I do and stay tuned for the updates with the new items.
I hope your week is going great so far!

SOOOOOO Delicious!

2009-06-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

*****I made these little beauties a week or so ago and let me tell you...they were amazingly yummy! And addictive! If I hadn't been the one who made them I would have sworn there was crack in them. Oops, I haven't told you what they are yet. heehee. They are cake balls. I had posted about them awhile ago but only got around to making them now.
The week before I made mine my friend, Wendy, and I hunted some down at a bakery in Dallas. They were very yummy but I found the chocolate ones a bit too rich for me so Wendy and I traded, my second chocolate one for her second strawberry one. (The ones from the bakery where about half the size of the ones I made.) Now cake balls are so crazy easy to make that the combinations of flavors are really only limited by your own tastes. I decided to go with a basic chocolate because I didn't want to scare Jim and I like chocolate. Since, however, I found those chocolate balls from the bakery too much I decided to make mine with yellow cake and chocolate frosting with the chocolate almond bark. It was a great success! Everyone I got to share them with liked them so well they all had seconds...and some thirds...a few fourths...you get the idea. :D This article is where I got the recipe I use. My friend Angie made red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting covered in chocolate almond bark. YUM! My next batch I am going to make coconut cake with strawberry frosting and chocolate almond bark. I want to wait a little while though so I can still fit into may pants.

This is what I get for being forgetful!

2009-06-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

This box is were I keep all of my yarn. I have been in an incredibly small studio for the past three years and haven't had the room for how I would really like to store my yarn. I would like a lovely shelf that I can put mismatched old crates and baskets on with my yarn organized by color. I actually found a beautifully perfect one when Jim and I went to Austin a few weekends ago...but there where a number of problems with me acquiring it. So I am still using my huge cardboard box, which I usually cover with a sheet because what kitty could resist three feet of softness. Not mine that's for sure! And here is the proof...sheet or no sheet this is their bed of choice!

I always wanted to be a torch singer...

2009-05-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this picture of Eartha Kitt. So sexy. So sensual. So...I think it was this picture that always made me want to be a torch singer. I found the bottom picture at this etsy shop.
And now that I have bribed you with great pictures...I can't believe I have been AWOL for a month! Things have been happening and I have finished some new bears and I even had a temp job for three weeks but really, is that any excuse?! My dear friend over at Gypsea Tree even tagged me and I still didn't get my bum on the blog to respond. *sigh*. I have some lovely things that make me happy that I wanted to post in response to that tag but I really wanted to find pictures to go along with them...it's kinda hard to post pictures you don't have if you don't go hunting for them. :p But after I post this I am going to go straight to picture hunting! I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I did. Jim and I went to Austin and it was a nice change. Austin is more quirky and so definitely a better place for me. :)

Mile Stone

2009-04-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

On April 18th I turned 30. This is very interesting to me because there is a subtle shift I can feel happening inside me.
Let me explain. I have never put much stock in age as a number. I am really close to my gram who is silly and wonderful. My mom can kick my butt she is so strong. The people in my close family generally don't "act like their age". They have wisdom that comes with experience but they can be as silly or carefree as a child, too. I have met children with Wisdom of the Ages and met men and women old enough to be my grandparents who haven't the sense they were born with.
In general I tend to forget my age because it has never made much difference to me. I am who I always was, just more so and with more experience to know when to speak up and when to lay quiet. This subtle shift I feel is not one of "growing old" or "leaving childhood"...it is more like an acknowledgment of moving on to a different phase of my life.
On my ankle I have a tattoo of the Celtic symbol for the Triple Goddess. The Triple Goddess represents the three stages of womanhood; Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Even long before I discovered this symbol in Scotland, I had a certain affinity for the idea it represents. To me it give equal strength, power, and reverence for all stages of Life. Not just the youth or the mother but also to the wise Crone. Our youth obsessed culture has forgotten the wonderful treasure of our older generations. And, sadly, many of our old have forgotten the lessons of the young.
While I have no children of my own (unless you count my two furkids :), this shift is a sense of feeling more in tune with the Mother than the Maiden. I don't think of the Mother as just one in the literal, fruit-of-my-loins sense. It is much bigger then that and my time as Maiden was so tumultuous that it is only in retrospect that I see, acknowledge and honor that time.
I am so excited for what each new day offers! Don't for one moment think I mourn the "lose of my youth". That's a load of crap. I didn't lose anything. I have gained everything. The difference between me and so many others is that I am not holding on to any part of my Life as the "best time". When I was little so many people told me it was the best time of my life. I thought they were nuts. Sure I liked being little to some extent but I can't say I'd truly like to go back because I now get to make ALL my decisions! How cool is that? If I want brownies for breakfast I can and have done it.
When I was in my mid and early twenties, another many people lamented the passing of their twenties as the best time of their life...hmmm...the twenties where great. Lots of wonderful things did happen to me...but they are done. Why lament their passing? Everyone grows old. Everyone dies. It is part of Life and I am not going to waste any part of my Life sighing over the past or fretting about the End. Bring it on! :D

Interestingly Enough...

2009-04-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

...I really liked this film. I found out about it on the Black Apple blog. She will often put posts about books she read or films she saw or shows she went to. I love her art and I've read all her back blogs and I feel like I have a lot in common with this blog (I don't say person because I've never met her, though I would certainly love the pleasure). She didn't write much about the film in her blog and there was only little more in the Netflix write up, but between the Black Apple's recommendation, a key word in the Netflix write up and this movie post picture, which I love, I decided to get it. It started out a bit slow for me and my DVD player started to act up not to far into it but today I finally got around to watching it through and I was stunned. There are many elements about the film that I found depressing but the story, interestingly enough, managed to leave me feeling heart warmed and hopeful at the end. The character of Eli was handled so well. She was presented in a matter-o-fact way even when she was doing extraordinary things. I don't think I can recommend it enough but with that being said it is most certainly NOT for everyone. It is a bit disturbing, make no bones about it, but still very good.

what else can i say....Giraffe!

2009-04-07T17:20:00.001-07:00

I love giraffes. I don't think this is a love that many people know about me. I don't have any pictures of them around my place and I don't think I've ever gone googly over one in someone's presence...but...I don't exactly know how I've escaped it. They are such weirdly cute animals. I just love the way they lope across the grasslands and don't even get me started on how cute I think they are when they are eating! Oh, love. *sigh*
p.s. ...I have a bear in the works that is inspired by this fella.

Oh, What a Cutie!

2009-04-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

I am totally diggin' this little fella! She also has a Dragon Skeleton Fossil I could truly live with. :)

Ahoy, Me Mateys!

2009-04-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here is my new Pirate Bear. Isn't he cute? He is one of those bears I've had the idea for for a loooong time. I had an idea what I wanted to do but as is often the case with me, he morphed along the way.
If you look closely at his boots you'll see that they have a lil' boot cuff! How cute it that? Yeah, the cuffs are my favorite. Oh, and his earring is yarn, so he is safe for all ages.

In other news, guess what I discovered I like? COCONUT SHRIMP! Yes, I said shrimp. For those readers who are not friends or family, I haven't been much into ANY seafood for many years. I did like smoked salmon when I was little but I don't any more. About five or so years ago I discovered I do like halibut in moderation. Then a few weeks ago Jim and I went to dinner with some friends at a tapas restaurant. One of the foods we got was the Coconut Shrimp. And, yes, yes, I did in fact like it. Now I am still not a huge fan of shrimp. I am a huge fan of coconut. I know it was the sweet sauce and coconut and not the shrimp so much because we went to another restaurant last weekend and got coconut shrimp...i didn't like it too much. The sauce was too spicy and the shrimp was too big. So there you go. My picky like of coconut shrimp.

Yummy!

2009-04-03T13:04:00.001-07:00

Don't these look yummy? I found them here. I haven't had a chance to make them yet but they seem like a great little treat for a party or tea party or get together. I have some friends coming over this weekend, I think I'll make them then. If I do I'll hopefully post some pictures of what I make for you all to see the yummy-ness. I was thinking maybe coconut cake with strawberry frosting...and chocolate outer frosting? Sound good?

Favorite Little "Things"...

2009-03-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

I made some chocolate chip cookies for my main squeeze last night. This isn't a rare occurrence, he likes to have some cookies n milk in the evening, I just like to make them for him because 1) I like to bake and 2) I don't want him getting those icky store bought ones. (Yes, I know some are really good...but mine are better!) As I was putting the ingredients together I had to pause for a moment at my favorite part....the part when I add the vanilla to the brown sugar. Oh, the smell is just wonderful. I enjoy the whole process but I really like this step. It is sorta the moment when I have to stop and realize where I am, what I am doing and why. No matter how fast I am powering through making them, this step always stops me...if just for a moment. What little moments make you pause?

Rabbit on a Road

2009-03-16T17:02:00.001-07:00

That is the name of this lovely painting. I found it here as I was poking around the net. I am definitely going to find out more about this artist.
I have looonnnggg wanted to try my hand at painting. I actually remember the day my interest was first truly roused. It was way back in fourth grade. My teacher was not so good at being a teacher but she was a good artist. I don't exactly remember what the assignment was but I painted a portrait of a woman with a monocle and messy hair bun. Even though the teacher painted on it a bit "showing" me how to make better shadows, I was and still am immensely proud of that painting. As much as I loved it, I was intimidated by my brother's amazing artistic ability. He has such a surrealist, dream-like quality to his work. (I'll have to see if I can get some of his stuff to show you!) I also had a feeling I would really LOVE painting on canvas but... I just didn't know where to start and I had lots of other fourth grader things on my mind. So I let the desire to paint sit just back far enough to be a constant, secret desire. Whenever I was in a craft store I would always go through the painting section and ogle the canvas and pet the brushes.
As the years passed I knew I should just do it but circumstances made me balk at the idea of the investment for the paints and brushes and canvas and...etc. I mean canvas was such a...commitment, wasn't it? If you used it you best know what yer doin'!? ...right? Well, then I moved here...and met Wendy who had apparently been having a similar conversation but with a real person and they had just decided to go for it. They got a box of paints from eBay for a song, scored some canvas at the craft store at crazy discounts and started. I got invited to their second painting party. I was excited and nervous but inspired. When I got there Wendy handed me a canvas and said go for it. A CANVAS!!!! I was intimidated, but they both said just do it, we go it all cheap.
And...I...did.
I painted on real-life canvas! The painting isn't profound or anything but I like it. And my dear friends and family seem to like it, too. I would show it to you but I am a little bashful. Maybe later I'll show you some of my painting. Let me learn some more first. :)

P.S. Edit: HEEEEHEEE! Right after I published this I went to go look up Michael Sowa, the artist of Rabbit on a Road and guess what I discovered? I have a print of his Kohlar's Pig! My gram gave it to me a month or so ago! (I love art and music and reading but I have never been good at remembering the names who created the stuff. I'll have to make more of an effort now!)

You and Me, Punk Rock Bear!

2009-03-12T10:20:00.001-07:00

This is the newest member of the Violet Raven Bear Collective. She is one of those bears I've had the idea of for awhile. (Looking back through my sketch book she is the 4th bear idea I came up with and I haven't made the first 3 yet!) I love her turquoise mohawk and her earrings, but she is also completely child friendly because her "earrings" are yarn. Her dress is part of a re-purposed t-shirt, which makes me happy because I am a huge advocate of the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and any other R that goes with them. Most of the materials I've used for my bears has been re-purposed, thrifted, or have been leftovers from other projects. I get a big kick out of finding useful uses for little bits of things that many people would throw out. I would like to live a way more self-sufficient life and am working toward it. I actually just finished a great book about living a more "handmade" life but I'll hold off until another post for telling you about it so I can do more justice to the book and the topic in general. Until then...Rock ON!!!

Things to be Grateful for!

2009-03-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

The smell of fresh air just after a rain...or the sprinklers.
I grew up in Washington State near Seattle and I love rain. I love the sound it makes in the forest when you are out hiking in it. I love the cozy pat on the windows when you are curled up warm inside. And I love the fresh, clean smell of it.
About four years ago I moved to Los Angeles, CA to see about acting professionally. LA was not as brown as I was led to believe but after I was there for a few years I realized it was browner than I wanted. When I would fly home to Washington to visit it was so funny to see the contrasts from the air. Leaving LA you'd see brilliant green lawns, sparkly blue pools, and grey concrete. Then as you got higher you'd notice LA was an artificial oasis because everything on the outside of town was brown and tan for miles and miles. When you came in to Washington everything is a rich deep green of evergreens and deep blue of the bay. The funny thing is in the summer, when you come in closer, the only brown you see if from the hibernating lawns!
Then I moved to Texas. Hmmm. No, it was not on the list of places I'd like to live, but it's kind of a long story on how I got here. Dallas is even browner than LA, but it is where I am right now and I want to be happy where ever I am. There are great creepy trees here. My banner picture was taken from the patio of my apartment. It has also been overcast-y a decent amount...like today. It is warm and a bit muggy and it feels like there are tiny bits of rainlet sprinkle-ish-ness out there as well, but the part that really made my day was when I came out of the leasing office and the sprinklers had just shut off....it smelled so lovely! The air in LA just doesn't hold moisture like down here. So it may get hot and horribly muggy in the summer here but for right now I am grateful for those sprinklers and the air that holds the moisture enough for that lovely scent!

She's Heading for the Big Rock Candy Mountians!

2009-03-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hobo Bear that is! This is the bear I'd been telling you about...the one that has been in various states of near done-ness for a loooonnnggg time. Mostly it was because I wanted to make her little stick sack but I had to figure out how I was going to do it, then I had to find the perfect stick, then I had to wait for more lavender from Washington. That's right lavender. One of my aunts in Washington grows lavender and I thought it would be lovely to have a bear that smelled like lavender...or at least her stick sack. Her hat was another part that took awhile but I tell you I love that hat! I love all my bears for different reasons but that hat is my favorite accessory of them all.
P.S. If you don't know why she is heading for the Big Rock Candy Mountians go listen to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? sound track.

A Doll of Dubious Intention...

2009-03-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

I think this guy to the left is just wonderful!! I don't know if I can say much more than that. I was perusing blogs trying to find other fun and inspiring things and I came across a write up about Tom Haney. He constructs his dolls so they move! In the one to the right here, the doll straightens the leg. That made me giggle. I would love to have one of these...especially if I had a mantle to put it on.
In other news, I have three new bears that are just awaiting their photo shoots. One has been done for awhile and...I don't know why I haven't gotten her photos done. I also have two non-bear items that I will be putting in the shop soon, too.

Just Beautiful!

2009-03-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

I have been exploring the wonderful world o' blogs and have come across so much beauty and whimsy! This particular photo I found here I would like to add more pictures and links in future posts because there is sooo much to inspire. I may even start some posts about my 'fashion'. The other day I had a lovely large red flower in my hair that made me very happy. I almost took a picture but couldn't figure out how to take a good picture. So I now have a new goal: figure out how to take good fashion pictures to show my friends! I hope your March is going lovely so far.

I've got weird cats!

2009-02-25T14:16:00.001-08:00

This picture isn't of them being weird...necessarily...it's just to show you them on their new kittie tree my mama got for them. They really like it. They sleep in it all day!:)
The reason I say they are weird is because they are. Pickles (the short haired one on the bottom) doesn't seem to like anyone but me. He hisses at everyone, even Jim. Now the hissing at strangers and anyone not me is maybe not so weird but its the way he does it. He will hiss at you while otherwise calmly letting you pet him. If you are sitting in a chair or on the couch he will walk up to you and sniff at your nose then give you a point blank hiss! At first I thought it could be a male thing but, nope, he does it to my girl friends as well.
Merlyn (the long haired one on the top) is indiscriminately weird. If he wants your attention he is up in your face or on your book/computer/dinner like most cats but if he doesn't want to be petted he doesn't simply move away or give a little meow or hiss, oh no! He goes full tilt! He runs away like his tail is on fire and the Hounds of Hell are after him! He is definitely worse with strangers but he still does it to me as well.
I've had a lot of cats growing up. I know they each have their quirks and personalities but I do believe that Merlyn and Pickles are the weirdest I've met. I think Dazey was the only other cat I have met who could possibly rival Merlyn and Pickles in weirdness but even she was relatively normal until you picked her up and she definitely lived up to her name (that is not a misspelling. She usually looked slightly dazed.)
I was just thinking it would be nice to show you a weirder picture and I looked over at Merlyn, who is snoozing next to me, and I found him in a rather uncomfortable looking position, but he is definitely asleep. ***I just moved to try to get my camera and he re-adjust to a more normal position. Sorry, folks.

Finished Up Another!

2009-02-24T09:18:00.001-08:00

Finished up another one for your viewing and buying pleasure. This is Hippie Bear. She was a lot of fun to make because she was one of those ones that makes herself. I made the bear before I knew what to do with her then I found the dress yarn as I was pawing through my stash and I liked the way the colors flowed. I didn't have the bear in the room with me when I was working on the dress so I just guessed at how long it should be and, what do you know? It was the exact length I wanted it to be! Her dress, vest and flower crown are all removable, too. Hopefully, I will have another bear for you tomorrow or the next day. She is sooooo close to being done. She just needs a few finishing touches.
Happy Tuesday!

I'd like to introduce you to Edward...

2009-02-23T17:28:00.001-08:00

Edward was inspired by my like of creepy things. I know the smile is probably sort of weird on a bear inspired by "creepy things" but I am an optimistic and cheery sort of person. One does not have to be morose and mopey to like dark and creepy. I actually find it sort of balancing because I like beautiful creepy. Elegant creepy. Wispy, ethereal creepy. I have been rereading Poe and Coraline and have been trying to figure out what book to read next that is in the creepy category. Edward was actually named after Edward Gorey. The Gashlycrumb Tinies is one of my favorites by him. You can find Edward for sale at my shop.

Three Cute Friends Are We!

2009-02-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

These are the newest addition to the Violet Raven family o' bears. I would like to introduce you all to Polar Bear, Buttons Bear, and Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Bear. These little sweeties have been in various stages of done for awhile but for one reason or another stayed undone until yesterday.
It's funny with making these bears...I usually have a good idea of where I'm going to go with the bears when I start but all three of these girls changed and morphed as they were being made or just kept asking for more. They were a lot of fun to make. I am very proud of all of them, from the details on Polar Bear to Buttons' dress to Raspberry's skirt. I hope you like them as much as I do!

In other news, we are having a thunder n lightening rain storm! It sprinkled this morning and started raining this afternoon but it only started in with the thunder and lightening about an hour ago. Oh, I love rain and storms!

Drum Roll, Please!!!!!

2009-02-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

It's finished! Can you believe it? I got a working bee in my bonnet last week and I just worked on it like a mad woman. I actually finished it Saturday morning. I probably could have finished it Friday night but Jim was already in bed and I was getting tired so I figured best not to push it because then I get good rest and I'll have someone to show it to when I finish! Yippie! Cindy, you ready for this?

P.S. I would show you more pictures but this blog site keeps formatting them weird and I can't figure out how to fix it. *sigh* I really need a new blog place. Suggestions?

White Stuff on the Ground!!!

2009-01-28T14:48:00.001-08:00

Yes! White stuff! but, alas, it is not snow. It is....frozen water drops of some sort. Can't decide if it is sleet or hail or freezing rain, but it did do the perty icycle thing to the trees. When I went out to my car to go do some grocery shopping there was a thin casing of ice on the front (it was in a covered spot) but the roads were mostly bare. If it were snow I would have made a snow person but when I took these pictures you could just tell it was melty-slush-ice. Boy, is this weather going to take some getting used to. Last week I wore a tank top to walk to the store and today I wore a down parka!
In other news, I have pulled my guitar out again and we'll see how long I stick to trying to learn to play it. I'm hoping awhile since Jim is a major guitar ge...person and is very supportive and excited for me to be able to play with him.
And in other-other news, I remembered I have a very important craft project that got set aside and really needs to be worked on! As of this post I have not pulled it out yet so it looks absolutely no different then the last time you saw it but hopefully in the next week or so that will be a very different story!
Happy Wednesday!

Tsk, Tsk...

2009-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

I've been a very bad blogger! I beg your forgiveness and have a few pictures to bribe you with. I wish I could say I've been away because I was on some amazing spontanious trip or I just landed a great job, but alas, no. I am still searching for the job. I have been absent for no better reason then that not much has been happening. *sigh*
I have been keeping busy, though, looking for a job, knitting, arranging our apartment, baking, and getting great ideas for my house I will own one day (soon).

Meet my new friend...

2009-01-09T21:31:00.000-08:00

....Harley! He is a Harlequin Bear and he will be put into the shop sometime this weekend!

Hmmm...

2009-01-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

...I seem to have forgotten to post any more pictures from my trip down here, but now it seems a bit past, if ya know what I mean. But don't feel cheated. As I was looking through the few pictures I do have I felt they were more "memory" pictures than "see-this-neat-thing-or-that". I do, however want to show you this picture of the creepy tree forest outside our apartment here in Garland, TX. I took this picture a couple days ago when it was freezing (I saw icicles on the trees and shopping cart returns!) but it was raining. It was weird weather but I do like me some dark 'n' gloomy ever so often, so it was wonderful.
Also, I just may be posting again today because I have a new bear almost ready for the shop and I am sooo super excited about him! HINT: he is red and black and I've nicknamed him "Harley" but not after the bike! :D

It's up and running!!!!

2009-01-07T19:27:00.001-08:00

My etsy shop that is! This is the first little bear to be posted. I have a bunch of cute fabrics and great ideas that are in the process right now of being turned into bears and other things for the shop. I would show you a fun and enticing picture of fabric and yarn but alas...unpacking still awaits. Some projects that were started before the move got mysteriously separated so I have newer ideas from what I can find now that will probably get posted before the other stuff! heehee! fun times.My main squeeze helped me get my banner and avitar looking beautiful. The picture in the right corner is that avitar. So go check it out already if this blog is how you found me and if you found this blog through this new little shop: Welcome!

Leaving LA

2009-01-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

The day we loaded up the Uhaul was the day after Christmas. My friends, brother Bucky and I emptied my apartment by lunchtime and Bucky and I pulled out at 2:10. After everything was out of the apartment I took a moment by myself in the apartment to see if I needed it...and I didn't. I miss my friends in LA but LA was never really my town. I learned a lot about myself and other people and how to deal with certain types and I will never regret moving there, but I went there for one reason and in the pursuit of that dream I realised I didn't want it as much as other people did and that I could be happy doing something else for a living. What that something else is...I don't really know. I have had lots of ideas but not much more. So for now it is "Welcome to Texas" and welcome new ideas and experiences.

HAPPIEST NEW YEAR!!!!

2009-01-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

I have been a bit MIA but I did have good cause, though I also tried not to be MIA. I tried to post before Christmas to show you my cute little Christmas tree my mom sent me so my brother and I could have a little Christmas as well as some other pictures but something went wonky on this site and deleted all the pictures I had just put on the post. To make a long story short, I ran out of time and didn't have time to post them up again. Then all the packing and moving happened, and while posting did cross my mind, it was mostly otherly occupied.
This picture of the lil' tree my mum sent was from on the road to Texas. I hope to be posting every day or two for a while showing you pictures from my trip. I wont do any more just now because I haven't figured out what to do about the wonky picture thing that happened earlier. But I also need to show you the first item that will be for sale in my etsy shop. (no links yet because I have to do the set up today. :D)

Random Bits

2008-12-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

It rained yesterday! Hard...all day! It had actually started the night before and I am soooo happy for it. I am one of those people who loves rain and here in LA, when it does rain, it is HUGE for me. I was driving to work yesterday and maybe it was bad conditions and everyone else was stressed and nervous but I had the biggest smile on my face. As I drove home last night I didn't even call anyone to keep me company. The beauty of the rain was enough for me.
And in other news, the apartment is getting bare. My friend came and picked up some furniture I was giving her this weekend and I packed up a bit more. I was really sick last week so that really put a damper on packing. If it was just a regular sniffy cold I probably could have powered through it but, wowzers, this one just knocked me flat with exhaustion. But I am on the mend, the weather is perfectly chilly and hopefully more rainy, my beautiful Hazel sisterfriend is coming in this Thursday from Washington, and Friday is my last day. Good stuff all around!

Yar, 'tis crafting I be!

2008-12-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

This is the pirate afghan I am working on for my wonderful Cindy friend. The origianl plan for it started more than a year ago but, silly me, I have never designed anything this...elaborate. My momma has though! She is a quilter but she can knit and she does like a good challenge (though she may deny that, but don't believe her) so I rangled her help in designing this thing. It was a bit hard to coordinate because she lives in Washington and I in California but through the marvels of modern technology we finally were able to settle on a pattern. Then my marvelous mother made this amazing graph and written directions! A number of things conspired to delay this project and now I am a mere two weeks from needing it done! Actually, it's more like one week because I am seeing Miss Cindy this weekend and I don't know if I'll have another chance to see her before I leave, because we live about 45 minutes from each other and she is crazy busy. So that picuture is where it is as of today and that is probably about 1/3 done. I'm sure I can finish it but I wont promise because I still have lots of other things to do.

Peeking Pickles

2008-12-03T14:54:00.001-08:00

And So It Begins

2008-12-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

I feel like my final countdown to moving to Texas has begun. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I made a pumpkin pie that was quite a hit and, of course, because I am new to this whole digital camera/blogging thing I didn't take any pictures of that little adventure. I did, however, get a good amount of stuff done (packing, crafting, sorting, relaxing) so I feel refreshed but productive. I am making my Christmas gifts this year so I can't post those until after they are given. My list of things to do before I leave is short (make presents, do Christmas cards, finish afghan and pack) but they are time consuming so I am left with this weird in-between feeling of too much/not enough time. It will be fine I'm sure but I do have to be careful to stay present. I've caught myself drifting in my thoughts, which is fine sometimes but I still have to get things done and to do that I really need to be present the next three weeks! :D

The feeding of some VERY large birds

2008-11-18T16:53:00.000-08:00

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **Jim and I went to Solvang this past weekend after we had a late lunch in Lompoc with my great-aunt (who was very impressed by Jim.) On the way to Solvang we passed an ostrich farm where you could feed them. Let me tell you, it was quite the experience! We all know they are huge birds but I quess I didn't realize how big until I stood near one and wondered if it was going to eat the food I held out for it or bite me. I mean look at the sign under Jim's hand! And they way those birds seemed to attack the food pan! They banged their beaks into it and sorta bounced the food into their mouths. We walked up the short path a little way to where these two ostriches where by themselves and they were so dainty about eating that we figured that was why they were in a less secure looking pen. It was a great day when all was said and done. :D

Better late than never...

2008-11-11T09:49:00.001-08:00

...and by that I mean my Halloween pictures!

I was a Wood Nymph and Jim was Zorro!

I don't know why this one is the biggest when I told all the pictures to be small but whatever! This one was taken later in the night after I had consumed a little alcohol and decided that that white rat was my best friend.

Coraline

2008-11-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

I bought this book yesterday on my lunch and finished reading it last night. I really liked it! It is written by Neil Gaiman who I was introduced to by Jim. He got me The Sandman series and, wow!, I was hooked.
I don't remember where I first heard of Coraline but this is a book I'm keeping. It is coming out as a movie in February 2009 which, as much as I want to see it, is fine by me. I find I need to have a good space of time between when I read "the book" and watch "the movie" so that I can appreciate them both for what they are. As we all know, the book is always better than the movie but I can usually like the movie for what it is (if its any good at all) if I watch it first.
Anyways, Coraline is about a little girl who makes a very creepy discovery and goes on quite an adventure! I read some quotes about the book and one said Coraline is the sort of children's book that children find to be a great adventure but gives adults nightmares! HEEHEE!

VOTE!!

2008-11-04T09:03:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone has voted today (or earlier if you do it by absentee, like me!). I used to go back and forth about if I thought it did any good to vote but then I figured, whether it matters or not, I should vote in case it does make a difference.
I feel remiss in my blogging as I have pictures from Halloween but I don't have them with me so I can't share. I will hopefully get the camera that has my pictures back this weekend and I will be a posting fiend to catch up on all the stuff I should have been posting this past weekend and week!

hugs n happy voting!

Happy Howler-ween!!!

2008-10-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yippie!!! My favorite holiday has arrived! I sure do like this time o' year. Yes, sir. I didn't wear a full costume to work today but I think I would still be let into Halloween town as I am channeling the theme pretty obviously. Tonight, though, I will transform into a wood nymph. Exciting, no? I know this picture to the right is not so good but I took it on my phone and I just had to share because I love random acts of humor and festive spirit.

Wednesday I went to Disneyland with my wonderful Cindy friend. I would have posted some pictures from that very fun day but I am ridiculously new to this whole digital camera thing and so forgot mine. Cindy brought hers, though, so as soon as she has a chance she will email them to me and I may post some...maybe.

I hope everyone has an absolutely wonderful Halloween...and a safe one!!

...And She's Off!

2008-10-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

This is quite literal in a few ways. Firstly, this is the very first time I have blogged. I set up a myspace account awhile ago and I have posted three little tid-bits but it never felt like a blog, per say, also I rarely go on the site. Secondly, I just finished my first item that I will be posting for sale on etsy.com. I haven't put it up yet because my mom is going to make a tag for me that has my "shoppe" name/initials on it, but when it is ready I promise I will post about it here. And the third way, is that I am off to Texas in about a month and a half! Texas is not a state I ever thought about living in but my main squeeze got a great job down thataway and I am done with the whole LA thing, so I'm going too.
Part of me feels like I need to address what I intend this blog to be about...truth is I don't have a strict idea. Generally, it will be a journaling of my creative endeavors, but I don't want to lock into anything to stringent at this time. I just want to go meandering down the creative path and post about what pops up! Yippie!