Vanquishing Age: One Pin at a Time

I actually have two Dammit Dolls, but this little lady is now my 'Dammit, how did I get so old?' Doll. Crafted by my 'outlaw' ma-in-law Cheryl, mom to sis-in-law Kelli , and she's been sitting around waiting for the right age/demographic to be appropriate for use. Can't wait for the time to come to pass her around the family. (Ahem... sisters and sisterfriends) That is, if I don't beat the sh*... stuffing out of her first.

Life is like a box of chocolates - or two

MINE. ALL MINE.

I do not share well with others. Just check my report cards.
Full disclosure: these are not holiday related chocolates. Don't let the timing, red box or cupid confuse you. These weren't technically Galentine's Day chocolates either, despite giver and date of intended celebration. Yes, given by a gal, a friend, and the date was for 2/13 but different celebration altogether. 

I am trying hard NOT to eat them all in one sitting or afternoon.

Edging too Close: Making the Mail

There is nothing like cutting it so close on finishing a crafting project that you are literally putting the last stitches in the edging and the label in the morning and then rushing to the Post Office in the afternoon so you can two-day Priority Mail it with prayers to make it to a baby shower on the 5th, less than 4 days from now ... in California. 

Yeah. So maybe that was me. I THOUGHT I had plenty of time. I literally started this present as I sat in my plane seat on the tarmac, en route West-bound on the 18th, had hours of driving up and down the length of Utah, rock-and-talk time with the aunties and cousins and kin, but I MAY have made a tactical error by working on my Christmas cards during the two week break.

I was so rushed packaging this (and my other two big boxes), that I didn't get the dimensions. It was pretty big though. It could be a crib cover, a toddler bed blanket, and/or keep someone(s) in a nursing rocker warm.

As it was for a pair of gems upon the birth of their first child, I went with a diamond pattern - one that was heavy enough to provide warmth if there were ever any cold California nights, but airy enough at the same time.

The poor hostess. I emailed her today and informed her the gift was en route- but oy! Too close. I only knew about the shower for months.

POSTSCRIPT: It got there on time (WHEW!) - and can apparently keep 2.5 people covered. Whoops.

Photo courtesy of Claire and Jenny

 

Go big or go home.

Also note: I finally got new labels explaining, once again, that this is NOT KNITTING.

 


~ photos by iTouch/iPhone

Wreck it Wednesdsay: Wreck this Journal

After a long week of staring at one screen or another, it was so lovely to spend last Friday with Christine. After hugs and news were exchanged, there was also an exchange of birthday goods.

Christine knows me so well. She could just tell that it was time for some crafts therapy.

My present was Keri Smith's Wreck This Journal - the expanded 2012 edition.

Wreck This Journal: To Create is to Destroy

Per Amazon.com

Already showing my imprint

For anyone who's ever had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes this expanded edition of Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking readers to muster up their best mistake and mess-making abilities and to fill the pages of the book (or destroy them). Through a series of creatively and quirkily illustrated prompts, acclaimed artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts--poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting pages with coffee*, coloring outside the lines, and more--in order to experience the true creative process. With Smith's unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art and journal making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

From the Preface:

Warning: During the process of this book you will get dirty. You may find yourself covered in paint, or any other number of foreign substances. You will get wet. You may be asked to do things you question. You may grieve for the perfect state that you found the book in. You may begin to see creative destruction everywhere. You may begin to live more recklessly. 

All color added by me

I spent part of the weekend playing in this ... here are some horrible iTouch photos, which just don't do it justice!

I was writing on top of my own writing

Certain pens bleed through - which I'll have to remember. Also, I can't draw.

Traced my hand with pencil, made annotations, and then illustrated with 3 nail polishes. Added note about which hand.

I love this duct tape. There is a pattern, but you can't see it for the paisley.

Page numbers bleed through. I've been adding dates of which pages I do.

* Coffee/tea substitutions will have to be made, or done with guest journalers.

Thanks for the inspiration Christine. What have you wrought?

Given that some of these pages instruct you to remove them from the book, I may split the spine and remove them all for preservation purposes. How I will do that with the 3-D stuff, I don't know yet!

Stay tuned.