memakestuff

copy catter dirty ratter

2011-12-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

so an amazingly talented and creative lady i know of giddy giddy fame came up with this DIY wreath all out of her brain and blew me away! instead of using painted paper bags, i used some scrapbook paper inherited from my mom and a wreath form found at the thrift store. anyhow, isn't copying supposed to be flattering? or am i just a copy catter dirty ratter? either way, this was a fun and satisfying project! thank you miss T!

makeover magic

2011-12-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

i had two of these funky Ikea ottomans who had seen better days, so i decided to cover them...my mom used to collect antique quilts and a few of them were pretty torn up...so, combine the two, get busy with a staple gun and viola...a little makeover magic!

hmmm, this was pretty easy...if only there was such a simple way to cover up my wrinkles.

anyway, the red and white one will be for sale at A Room With A Past starting December 15th! i am excited to say i am going to be selling all kinds of goodies (vintage, handcrafted and just plain old good stuff) there once a month. if you are in the walnut creek area, please come!

hi folks

2011-11-21T23:48:00.000-08:00

does it ever bother you how often politicians use the word "folks"? as in "folks need jobs"..."folks need health care"...i find it super condescending, what is wrong with the word people?
anyhow, enough of that...a while back i had a chance to check out an exhibit of folk art. but you know, it was really just people art. i guess saying "folk" means not fancy or educated. maybe that is why i am sick of hearing politicians use that word...because it IS condescending.
ok, enough griping...here is the awesome people art i saw.

these top two were done by a folk named Mose Tolliver. He lived from 1919-2006 and was one of twelve children. During the 60's he was hurt badly when a slab of marble crushed his legs while working in a factory. to relieve boredom after the accident he began to paint...a lot. really love his people/folk. they have excellent noses.

great colors

i think this was from a tailor shop

this painting was from a barber shop, i'm considering getting a dollar sign shaved into my hair and now i have the perfect picture to bring to my hair lady.

doesn't this guy remind you of a few of our GOP hopefuls? (scary.)

i would rather have this bear thing as my president than the previous offering.

more hairdo options

anyhow, i love the colors here and would be over the top happy to have anyone of these folk arts grace the walls in my house...much more so than most fancy people art

welcome aboard!

2011-11-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

remember when I made a bright red fire truck for my pal Cullen? well, time FLIES and now Cullen has got himself a little bro, Reed, who needs a blue airplane!

sweet

2011-11-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

a friend with a baby girl on the way asked me to paint a mural on her nursery wall! she chose a tree with birds and wanted it to be personalized, that is why there is a mommy, daddy and baby bird, all of the family initials "carved" in a heart, a dog print for their "first baby" and mushrooms...(i'll just leave those to the imagination!)
the colors she chose (pink and gray) combined with a FANTASTIC chandelier she found make the room seem sweet and sophisticated. i looooved spending time in a soon to be nursery. it got me daydreaming back to the days of rocking in a rocking chair, nursing baby and feeling completely content.
anyhow, if anyone out there wants a mural and lives close...i want to do more! i shouldn't be limiting..if you live in Italy and are willing to spring for my flight, i GUESS i could do that also. ;)

felty acorn ball thingies...DIY

2011-10-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

Step 1: obtain some of this felt wool stuff from craft store or here.

Step 2: wet the wool in warm/hot water

Step 3: with soapy hands (any soap will do) roll the felt...experiment with what works for you, be patient and roll it like a ball of clay. it will turn onto a tight sphere.(that's what she said;) ) add more thin layers of the felt and stop when you like the size of the ball (again, that's what she said ;) )

Step 3: let the balls dry. (oh no, I have the humor of an 11 year old boy...as I wrote Let The Balls Dry, I laughed like Beavis.)

Step 4: find some acorn toppers and hot glue those balls in...(oh no...if you could read my mind right now you would think I was Beavis or Butthead...not a 40 year old woman. why does the mention of balls send me into a weird teenage boy state of mind? what is wrong with me?)

Step 5: Enjoy your balls HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

treasure from the past

2011-10-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

wow wow wow! look at this amazing deal from Walnut Creek's room with a past. $9.00 for this never been worn costume in the original box that looks like it may be from the 50's or 60's!(my mother in law brought up the whole p.c. issue, to me it just seems like a sweet little costume from another era...am I being naive? what do you think?)
anyway, i can't believe that room with a past has been open for 8 years and i am just now finding out about it....ugh, all of the treasures...not found by me. but soon...all the treasures will be mine, MINE I SAY! mwhaa ha ha ha.

amish mobile

2011-10-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

a friend and I created this mobile together the other day for another friend ready to have her first baby. we made it entirely out of materials that were on hand. it took us five hours (crazy right?) on a rainy day while our 4 kids were cooped up and sort of destroying the house. we just really wanted to finish the thing so our friend could have it before her baby came. AND, there was NO alcohol involved!! i felt like an Amish woman.

the big 4-0

2011-10-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

well i have now been 40 for a good 14 hours. so far, so good...i am happy to report i can still hear, i can see pretty well and i am not too achy. (i have noticed more puffiness around the eyes...not sure what is happening there) anyhow, i love this picture that was taken when i was still 39, spry, young and full of hope for the future. it is with this spirit that i plan to embrace the whole 40 thing. lots of hula hooping.

vagabond

2011-09-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

rainbows and circles are factoring big into my preparations for the Vagabond Craft Show at one of my most favorite stores; Urban Bazaar...please come out October 15th if you are in the SF area.

birds in the bedroom

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

oh man, i don't know how to make this pic look better ...darn. those blue squares above the bed are some bird family blocks i did for a family i love....this is the mom and dad's new bedroom! looks great, no? also those boots hanging over the wardrobe door? All fake! It is a realistic looking painting called tromp l'oiel.

sunday night people

2011-09-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

in my never ending fascination with creativity and my quest to make a little sense of my blog, i have decided to start a regular feature called sunday night people.
i want to pick the brain of creative people...what makes them tick? then I'd like to share the results of the brain picking here.

anyhow, let's get started. I would like to introduce a friend i met in high school, Darwin Meiners. he has always been a funny, bold and creative guy. as a matter of fact, he has so many projects going on, i have the feeling i am leaving something out...how many hours are in his days?

in no order of importance Darwin is a film maker, musician and a talent manager. well, actually he is David J's manager who was in Love and Rockets, a band most of you will remember from the 80's. I think Darwin must really like that band because he covers them in a band called luv n rockets. and doesn't it boggle your mind that he is now managing David J from the real band? anyhow, i can't get over it, that must feel like a trippy dream come true. Darwin is also in a band called Five Beats One that sounds great as well.

and just in case some of you out there are thinking...all of this? well, he must be single and doesn't have kids to take care of. WRONG! He has a lovely wife, two cute kids and a full time "real" job. sooo....just in case there is a creative project you are putting of due to lack of time...no more excuses! now enjoy the interview.

What do you create?

Music is my main focus but I also have made indie films as well. I also consider the management I do with David J to be creative.

What inspires your creativity?

I never know how to answer this question. For the most part I just HAVE to do it. I can't imagine my life without it. But throughout the days, months, etc I find a variety of things inspire. Many times it's due to a challenge - Can I do that? Forcing myself to do things out of my comfort zone also is very inspirational. Then other times going "home" to what comes natural is the best thing for me. Events, feelings, people - everything inspires me.

Why do you create?

I don't have a choice.

If you found yourself on a deserted island and survival stuff was taken care f (food, clothing, blah blah) what 5 items would you bring?

Laptop (assuming there's power!), acoustic guitar, microphone, my music collection and headphones

What is your dream outfit?

Immaculately tailored Italian 3 piece suit w/ Beatle boots.

What is your perfect day?

Breakfast with my wife and children. Then writing/recording all day. Dinner with wife and kids.

What do your days look like in reality, when do you find the time to create?

Wake up. Work all day. Come home to dinner. Put kids to bed. Hang out with wife for a bit. If I am in the mood (or am required to by deadline, etc) I go out to my studio around 9pm and work until I can't anymore. It's not pretty!

What is your proudest creation? (besides kids...)

In order and not necessarily based on quality: 1) First Secret Courtesy CD 2) 'Like Lightning' short film 3) Five Beats One EP

Were you a creative child?

Yes. My mother was told by several people that I should be an engineer or in advertising. I have always had a knack for getting people together as well even at a young age I was able to gather kids together for various projects, games, etc.

Please describe how you see the relationship between creativity and monetary compensation..."making a living off your art."

I have never been in a situation where I could make enough money for this to be an issue! I have to feed my family so I need a job that allows me to do that. I also need to feed myself, my soul. I have the opportunity to work in an environment that supports my music and film so it works out well for me. I know some people that have the opportunity to make their living with their art and most of them are pretty happy doing it. However, there are some of them that hate it. They are totally burned out making $ in their art and also find that it effects how they make the art. The best part of my situation is that I never have to consider payment or compensation in anything I do. I like that.

Who inspires you?

Depends on the time.

What is the place of art in the world?

I believe that art is essential. Art is communication, it's how we express ourselves. Music, for example, has been a major part of social change. Can you imagine the 60's without music? For some people, myself included, there is no "choice" to make art. You must. It's like breathing.

How do you work through creative blocks, if , of course, you have ever suffered through one.

I have come across this and it can be pretty tough. For the most part I try to not work when I'm not inspired or motivated. But sometimes when you are in the midst of a project you have to. In those cases I just force myself to go out to the studio. Sometimes just getting out there and listening to something, or playing around with an instrument or setting will get you going. Sometimes you end up just sitting there staring at the computer screen.

What do you say to people that claim they are not creative?

My guess is that they just haven't found out what their outlet for creativity is yet. I've never met a child that wasn't creative. Some are more than others, but never have met one that has no creativity at all. I don't believe we lose that. Perhaps some people just lose sight of it or can't tap into for a variety of reasons.

thank you Darwin!

8x8 art show at Riverside Studios

2011-09-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

this is one of mine, i gotta be honest here...this one makes me barf now. in retrospect i would have used a softer color palette.

this is Leo's contribution, see what I mean? he just went for it and it turned out really awesome.

i still like my blue giraffe guy....

i called this one "the field"...usually i don't name my paintings.

it was great how you could get up close and really check out each painting

so super fun! The 8x8 art show at the Riverside Studios in beautiful Truckee, Ca. was wonderful!

every one that participated was handed plain old 8X8 blocks of wood and set free to create whatever we wanted as long as it could hang on a wall.

I had so much fun watching Leo's creative process. His 11 year old style is so quick and free, while I take my time and revisit my paintings often. As is the case with both of my kiddos, I envy their complete freedom in their approach to artwork. So carefree! And, as is the case often...I ended up liking Leo's art better than mine.

Anyhow, this was such a great experience, very interesting to see how different every one's 8x8 wood blocks came out...and some of the proceeds from the sales go to help the Trails and Vistas organization.

just to keep things real...this is where Leo spent most of his time that evening...out front playing f*@!ing angry birds. his first art show can't even top the allure of that highly addictive time wasting piece of crap nonsense. oops, did i sound a little upset there? anyhow...just remember, this world NEEDS art (not angry birds) so keep on creating!

Holy crap, I am blogging from the car

2011-09-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

We are in route to Truckee and it is turning into a looong drive. Why oh why cal trans must you do your highway maintenance work on freakin' labor day weekend? But, looking on the positive side our extended journey has gotten ne more familiar with this new to me I-phone...I have paid a bill, corresponded with some pals, played some angry birds and now I am blogging! I just can't figure out how to upload photos from my phone onto my blog. Suggestions anyone? Oh well, consider yourself lucky, they would just be pictures of the aforementioned cal trans project...but made cool from the hipstamatic ap. Oh I'm telling you, it really is a brand new world.

lazy sunday magic

2011-08-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

proof that magic exists: there was absolutely nothing computery/video gamey/TV/battery operated about this sweet sweet moment where the kids were absolutely enthralled in this imagination powered fairy world. i think i even heard a few magic spells whispered in the doll's ears to come awake at night.
hoping you all experience perfect moments where nothing is making noise except for kids engaged in magic.

featured on Poppytalk!

2011-08-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

i am happy to say that i got my old chalk calendar blocks featured on poppytalk handmade (a blog thingy i DROOL over). if you haven't already please go check this site out, poppytalkhandmade. and bring a tissue, i am serious about the drooling.

zuccchipalooza

2011-08-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

it is that time of year again!!! time for summer festivals and my personal favorite is definitely the zucchipalooza! a very new and hip festival located conveniently enough at my neighbor's house...lots of creativity to be found and some exciting new acts like zucchini pickles and an apple crisp made out of zucs! also, the old favorite standby, zucchini bread was featured...

have you heard of any new and wild zucchini acts? let me know...i think there might be a second date soon...

lots o zucs from my and a friend's garden. oh alright fine...one little one from my garden and the rest from my friend's garden. (garden envy...it ain't pretty)

the mixing and cradling (an often looked over step) of the zucs for the bread...

my lovely neighbor and a book that she is excited about (she has a real thing for Little House on the Prairie, how cute is that?)

can you believe this is about to be zucchini crisp, NOT apple crisp? i gotta tell you...it was very good...of course the butter, brown sugar and oatmeal that topped it may have had a lot to do with that!

zuchinnis just chillin'

oh my...warm bread........need i say more?

OK, don't know what is up with this pic...my computer decided to go on strike from rotating beautiful pictures of zucchini pickles.

more paintings...

2011-07-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

i am loving to paint lots and lots lately, thanks to taking the second installment of the Get Your Paint On course given by two of my fav arteests, Mati Rose and Lisa Congdon...but now I have a (excuse the term) buttload of paintings and limited wall space...not sure what to do with these...any suggestions?

summer's sweetness

2011-07-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

bee-yooo-tee-full!

face painting fun...

remembering baby bird (see a few posts ago)

our new baby boy; MOCHA!!!!!

nerd glasses for all

2011-07-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

we've recently returned from our annual Ashland, Oregon trip...what a wonderful town; the charming old houses, healthy people walking and riding bikes everywhere, yummy restaurants, great beer, amazing plays and art...and this year...NERD GLASSES! who knew my son's fashion statement would be this much fun?

photoshop magic!

2011-06-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

i was the right age to really buy into the fairy tale i believed Princess Diana represented... (i didn't understand the sad bits until i was older.)

of all the celebrity deaths, hers affected me the most. this picture startled me when i first saw it , isn't this crazy good photoshop work?

anyhow, completely cheesy, bare with me on this bit of royal stargazing but i bet Diana really would love Kate.

map wrap

2011-06-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

why buy brand new wrapping paper when you probably have some great options lying around the house already? i have a ton of maps saved up from my life before GPS and google maps that make for some colorful gifts. old bingo game papers, architect plans and kid's artwork are some other ways to reuse your old stuff and make a gift pretty....please leave a comment if you have any other great upcycle gift wrap ideas!

paint paint paint

2011-06-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

i am taking another Get Your Paint On class (lurv it, it makes me paint...!) and we are working off of the Gee's Bend Quilts once again. this time i decided to "quilt" together blocks of wood that my 3 year old daughter and i had painted...

this was a fun take on the assignment and a nice thing to do with my kidlet.

let's do lunch

2011-06-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

recently i had the opportunity to volunteer with my kid's school for a project that culminated with a festival thrown for several parochial schools from the mission district in San Francisco.

the festival was in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and included a play, singing, dancing, face painting, fortune telling, flower arranging and 350 free lunches. i helped in the making, assembling and passing out of the lunches, good thing they didn't ask me to help with the singing and dancing, instead of seeing happy, joyful children there might have been fearful and freaked out children.

anyhow, the way this last minute event went off without a hitch reminded me that people are capable of wonderful things...here is to saying yes and getting involved....what will you say yes to?

"knowing Jesse"

2011-06-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

just finished reading this book...

wow.

anybody that is thinking of becoming a parent, is a parent or ever had a parent must read this book.

Marianne Leone captures with words the essence of a mama lion...what this lady feels for her son is something i believe every parent feels...she just happens to express it perfectly.

this video is about 4 minutes long and just might put you in a great mood if you let it!

2011-06-03T21:53:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/10377992

run away...RUN AWAY!

2011-05-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

i don't know why, chickens are funny. nervous nellies that make silly sounds. anyhow, hope you have a great weekend.

painting journey

2011-05-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

i love to sneak peeks behind the scenes...how do other people create stuff? well, here is the latest painting i've been working on...i don't even know if it is finished yet...but here is how it has looked at different points along the journey. i've learned i don't like working on canvas (which is ok in this case because i scored this at the thrift store for .50). canvas is too wimpy, i prefer wood where i can sand, scratch, scrape and bang away without fear of ripping through anything...(hmmm, do you think i might be working out some aggression in my paintings?)

new bad guy...

2011-05-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

well, with Osama gone, I guess it is time to focus on the next bad guy....

give a hoot

2011-05-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

ya-whooooooooo! my gray owl getting some etsy treasury love...

2011-04-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

this is a picture drawn by my three year old that indicates how we feel regarding what happened with Fa-La-La. i will never try to rescue a bird again. i feel terrible.

bird rescue 911!

2011-04-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

this little ball of complete and perfect cuteness fell out of tree into the neighbors yard...we are figuring out what to do with him. my daughter suggested we call him Fa-la-la. I'll keep you posted on Fa-la-la's status.

holy cow, a miracle!

2011-04-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

bee

no bee!

it must be the season of miraculous events...my daughter and two of her sweet friends made this shrine for a dead bee they found. as you can see a lot of work went into this project. and the bee was very dead seeming until i took a photograph, then it just up and flew away...!

with Easter upon us, all i could think was that this must be some sort of fantastic miracle we had witnessed...i felt like i should go shout it from the mountains...the bee is back!

but now that i am rational again, i think maybe the bee was just luxuriating in all of the sweet little girl attention that was being lavished upon him and when he spotted me with the camera he realized this type of relaxation might look bad back at the hive.

happy spring

2011-04-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

even though this sweet little egg guy has a cracked head and some sort of mold thing growing on his lower bits, he is still managing a smile...we can learn something here! happy spring everyone, enjoy!

whooo loves owls?

2011-04-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

yahooooo! I am very pleased because my father in law (otherwise known as grandpa bean) taught me to use his band saw...so now i can cut shapes out of wood....this is VERY EXCITING to me...the owls are my first attempt at a shape, i am thinking bees might be next...anyhow, i am loving it! nothing like a little band saw action to make a girl happy.

funky moments in friendship

2011-04-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

my son and one of his best buddies since kindergarten (now both in the fourth grade) are experiencing some growing pains in their friendship. they were having a playdate (for some reason that is what hanging out called these days) at our house and i am telling you..it felt like a bad date.
usually a playdate for my kids means a big old break for me...the kids keep each other occupied while i tend to my adult activities, like reading trashy magazines.
anyhow, on this particular playdate, these guys just were not connecting. i am talking awkward...like long silences awkward.i can't really get a grasp on what is happening in the friendship, i just think they are developing different interests and not having a lot in common right now.
not only couldn't they figure out what to do together, soon they kept coming to me for ideas. HOLD UP...now it is serious...i just wanna read my magazine, ok?
i had to think of something fast, all of my suggestions were met with zero enthusiasm...jump on the trampoline? nah. ride bikes? nope. play basketball? no. throw the baseball around? no way. make some art? yuck.
in a moment of desperation (I HAD TO READ ABOUT JENNIFER ANNISTON'S NEW HAIRDO)i told the boys to just go out in the garage , get some wood and tools and make something.
Finally...could it be...is that...a glimmer of interest in both sets of eyes? YES! enthusiasm!!!! as both of them ran out to the garage, i settled back to figure out just exactly what is going on between Scarlett Johansen and Sean Penn when it occurred to me...did i really just send two 10 year old boys out to the garage to play with power tools...shit...voyeuristic tendencies, you will just have to wait.
Anyhow, cut to the chase, these guys did end up bonding over a SUPERVISED table building activity (they even used an electric saw!!!). They were happy, my son got a new nightstand...and you know what? I think I may have enjoyed myself more than I would have reading my junky old magazine...

example of 10 year old literature

found...

2011-03-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

just got back from a week with the fam in Los Barriles, Mexico...SIGH...sighing some more...another sigh...

anyhoo, even the litter was beautiful to me down there, something a little magical about wandering upon some old blue dishes and a sun baked bunny toy in a desert...how did they get there? and i swear, i was pondering the state of this charming garbage BEFORE i hit the tequila...

spring

2011-03-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

dear japan...

2011-03-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

our hearts are with you...

stages of a paintng

2011-03-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

this is my last painting for the Get Your Paint On course taught by Lisa Congdon and Mati Rose. i really enjoyed this course, they are teaching another one in September...if you need to get your creative juices flowing...i would definitely recommend it.

thirteen departures from the moon

2011-03-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

last night i had the pleasure to attend a poetry reading given by a wonderful friend, Deema Shehabi.

the way this lady paints images with words is just dreamy...luscious, sad, gorgeous, loving and connected... a lot like the moon that is ever present in her work...

here is a tiny bit from her brand new published book "Thirteen Departures From The Moon."

In the dark, worn-out night,

mountains drip secret layers of perfumed mist

into the cheeks of young girls

and the moon is a solitary man

who waits in anguish

for the unveiling of violet courtyards

hidden just beneath the mountain tops.

good, right?

happy tuesday

2011-03-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

happy yellow and red

can i carpet my bedroom in this?

sometimes i just like to go on "inspiration walks" with my camera, this gets me looking at and appreciating the world around me with new eyeballs. (uh-oh, my ten year old's humor is rubbing off on me...lately he ads the word balls to just about everything he says...hilarious).

anyhow, i was visiting one of my favorite places ever, San Diego, and that is one place where you don't have to look hard for inspiration. it is more like you need to edit all of the beauty and interesting things that are happening...

my eyeballs are happy while in San Diego.

cure for the blues

2011-02-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

learning to work together

sometime ago i had volunteered to do makeup for a play at my kid's school...and doesn't it figure when the time came to do it, my face and eyes were swollen like crazy from a two week battle with poison oak, my husband was away for work for 10 days...let's just say i was in a yucky place. i was feeling put upon by this task i had volunteered to do when i was feeling better.
but something about HELPING these kids put on a play turned out to be just the right cure for this self-pitying lady.
i had never painted on faces before and it is a really nice experience (although it may have been terrifying for the kids when my giant puffy monster face started breathing coffee dragon breath into their faces...but i enjoyed it from my end.)
also, i should know by now that anytime my kid's school (which i loooooove) decides to do a play, i am bound to learn a beautiful life lesson. this play was called Friendship Valley, all about how every single one of us is important...even the tiniest frog!
so even though my face and a-hem, other parts of my body, were still ON FREAKING FIRE from the poison oak, my heart and spirit were lifted by such a simple thing...a little bit of volunteer work and time spent with children.

p.s. it turns out i happen to be pretty allergic to poison oak and i am now on a course of prednisone.

another volunteer gets a frog ready

sweet racoon

my favorite, the badger and squirrel

standing in line to perform

scene from Friendship Valley

sweet give away!

2011-02-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

two very creative ladies i know from Baby Boot Camp are embarking on a new sweet, yummy business journey called My Sugar Scape. they create wonderful, edible, beautiful, decorative tables for festive occasions...my personal favorite is the Star Wars themed table...who wouldn't love this?

may the force be with your teeth if you eat all of this...

can you imagine this at a little party? super pretty.

swanky and yummy...

My Sugar Scape is offering a free give away contest! Free cute stuff...for leaving a comment on their blog...the chances of winning are pretty good..are you feeling lucky??? go for it! (a set of my heart coasters are up for a prize, and check out how cute the headband is...drooling over here!)

just go to their blog and follow the instructions! may the force be with you!

message of peace and love

2011-02-13T18:18:00.000-08:00

just in time for valentine's day! the "love bot" paid us a visit, spreading his message of peace and love, (not sure how the Darth Vader shirt fits in to all of this lovey dovey stuff, maybe the love bot is trying to give an example of acceptance)

(this was our valentine's day gift from our 10 year old son, i LOVE it!)

it's official, we've got bieber fever.

2011-02-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

so, i went with my daughter, neices, mother in law and sister in law to see the justin bieber movie, never say never.

wow! WOW! what a fascinating experience...the theater was filled with SCREAMING SCREECHING crazy ass girls going WACKO over this justin bieber! i felt like i was at an actual concert and not at some movie theater in the middle of the afternoon...towards the end of the movie about 40-50 girls even got up and danced in the front of the screen (while screaming of course). i even got to listen to a scream off type fight with a group of girls from the back yelling "we love you justin" while the girls in the front yelled "NO, WE LOVE JUSTIN" over and over...all the while other groups of girls were yelling "shut up" (typing this out i am wondering if this was the best idea to bring my three year old girl to...) well, too late now.

and you know, i have to admit, i got a little emotional as well...there were a few scenes that got me weepy... and just seeing these girls go bananas gave me the chills...i realize that my generation got the short end of the stick with this icon thing. my mother in law was saying how the screaming girls reminded her of her feelings towards Elvis, and then of course there were the Beatles...but who did we ladies of the 80's really have? Michael Jackson was awesome but never really crush material(at least not for me). and then all those boy bands...but just not one superstar...maybe it was Madonna but again, not quite the same kind of crush as Elvis or the Biebs... yes, i really just compared Justin Bieber with Elvis. that is how good i think he is. i am a belieber.

waiting for the bieber in all of his 3-D glory

this is video of the screaming girls dancing along with the movie (pretty cruddy quality, but listen to those screams!)

hey lady!

2011-02-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

i've been in a Frida mood lately. her story and her art inspire me, i think...wow, what a crazy broad! and i love it, i have a special place in my heart for such passionate people, especially the ladies. (especially the teensy bit coo coo ladies...)
i have recently read barbara kingsolver's (hey, another favorite lady of mine!) book, the lacuna which features Frida in all of her passionate, selfish and selfless glory. please read this book, it is that good.
anyhow, here is to strength and passion!

p.s. all of these Frida goodies can be found at my shop!

get your paint on!

2011-02-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

i am taking an online painting class called get your paint on. it is taught by lisa congdon and mati rose. (drool drool, i really love both of these local bay area ladies work so much) when i heard they were teaching an online painting class i had to think about it for all of one second and then signed up on the spot.

our first week's assignment was based on the amazing quilts coming out of Gee's Bend. i had never heard of these before but just look! wow. we had to let ourselves be inspired by these friggin' amazing images! mine came out a bit subdued but i think i was somehow trying to balance out the chaos of having a sick three year old with me nonstop for the entire week.

anyhow, this has been a great experience so far, and i've got to say...my socks are knocked off at all of the creativity out there. i encourage everyone to take some sort of class...keep the juices flowing!

i think i turned into a hippie today

2011-02-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

evidence that i might have turned into a hippie today

a. i made my own granola bar things...(i finally figured out how my food processor goes together and i "pulsed" some almonds, walnuts, honey, flax seeds, oats, dried cherries and raisins together...spread it out on a baking pan, froze it....and hello! hecka healthy bar things that so far my three year old loooves, let's see what the real critic (the 10 year old) will say.

b. i rinsed my hair with vinegar. maybe all of you are already doing this and i am late to the party but i am contemplating ditching conditioner after this. my hair feels super soft, looks shiny and there weren't any tangles.
why vinegar? my daughter has had a bad cold recently and has become EXTRA CLINGY, this means i have been taking baths with her (because apparently if i were to take a shower on my own, this is the equivalent of abandoning my family to join the circus in my daughter's mind). so for the last, i'm really not sure how many days it has been, i have been "washing" my hair in funky bathwater. my scalp and hair felt and looked like poo and somewhere in the back of my mind i remembered a vinegar rinse...i am telling you people, my head feels good and i don't think it smells like vinegar. i will do a little test on my husband when he comes home.

c. anyhow, am i a hippie? don't these activities seem hippie-ish to you? does my daughter need to get well so i can get the @(&$(Q** out of this house? perhaps. anyhow,
do you have some cool hippie tips? please comment, i need more hippie activities.

DIY rainy day dragon craft for kids

2011-01-30T20:53:00.000-08:00

a rainy sunday...what better time for trying a little craft with the kiddos i've been eyeballing in family fun magazine. do you see how in the previous link the dragon puppet looks so perfect, the girl looks so smiley and everything just looks so friggin' clean and tidy??? WELL...enter realtiy.

things got off to a GREAT start, the neighbor boys came over and we were all set to start painting...

i was all calm, i had read the instructions to make the dragons a couple of times, i had the oldest boy cut the egg cartons just so, i was thinking the pacing of this craft was just fine, i was in fact drinking coffee and enjoying the lovely creativity of the kids on a rainy morning...HAHAHAHAHA so silly.

usually i pride myself on how things like mixing all the paint colors together don't bug me...so far so good, i wasn't bugged, yet...

and was i bugged when the black paint for painting the scales went through the fabric and onto the floor??? NO! not ME!

did it bother me when the boys mom came over and informed me that i in fact had NOT read the directions the right way or cut out the stupid egg cartons the right way? NOOOOOO. It certainly didn't bother me when I tried to staple all this wet paint soggy egg carton crap together to no avail...WAIT A SECOND,,,why am I the one trying to staple this ~~soggy mess~~

ummm, creative art work together? I thought this was for the kids....why are they making SO MUCH NOISE anyway? why aren't they deeply and QUIETLY engrossed in the creative process here? Oh that's right, they are arguing and wrestling in the bed room "YOU GUYS WORK IT OUT, SHE ISN'T HURT THAT BAD...I HAVE TO STAPLE THESE WET EGG CARTONS TOGETHER. LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!"

friggin' mess

now quit fighting and pose with these dragon puppets ~~your mother and I~~ YOU made!!!!

"now set up this awesome puppet theater your mom made (I'm sure there is a similar non stressful story behind that as well) and put on the best f*#$ing dragon puppet show of your life...SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!!,oops, I mean, could you cute kids try to keep it done please???? Thanks:)""oh dear, did you hurt your head when you fell through that awesomely cute puppet theater? GET UP GET UP QUIT CRYING, i mean, uh-oh...I'm at a loss here....but look at how great your dragon puppet is! Right? RIGHT? Is 11:00 am too early for a little drinky?"

but come on people, i mean look at the end result...a big thing that will never get played with and warm fuzzy memories of two uptight moms on the verge of a nervous breakdown stapling and painting and cursing while the kidlings avoided serious bodily injury while running like wild banshees throughout this little happy suburban home .

(i know, perhaps you are wondering, where did this kid in the above pic come from?...he wasn't in the pictures when these AMAZING CRAFTS were being executed...well, that is because he was with his Dad this weekend and when he came home and saw what had been done without him, he felt really left out and got pissed. ) so what can i say to sum this experience up.....hmmm, next time it is a rainy Sunday morning and the impulse to get "crafty with the kiddos" strikes....remind me to

either

a. go back to bed

b. turn on an age appropriate movie for the kids and go back to bed

c. send my kids to the neighbors house and go back to bed

Happy Crafting Everyone!!!!!!

rock n roll addition

2011-01-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

we are done with the addition!!! yahoooooo! now we just need to get ourselves moved in.(i also need to get my new craft space organized which is becoming a daunting prospect in my mind...what if i don't use this gorgeous space in the most efficient way???)

anyway, my husband created this video that captures the entire 4 month process in a few minutes...and i have to say it was an exciting 4 months and the guys that did the work could not have been any greater...i actually miss them, they were starting to feel like family.

i want to eat the sky.

2011-01-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

truckee, california sunset. doesn't this look delicious?

more etsy love....so pretty!

2011-01-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

pesto sash clutch
eclu
$58.00 USD
Pink Peony Necklace
consentiodes...
$62.00 USD
hand painted necklace, ori...
tuckooandmoo...
$25.00 USD
Wonderland - a girlie girl...
Raceytay
$30.00 USD
12 Assorted French Macaron...
theMacaronne...
$17.95 USD
Lillian Hair Pins
tomdesign
$8.00 USD
Femme Soap
morganstreet
$6.00 USD
Desdemona - Handdyed Polwa...
creaturecomf...
$15.50 USD
Blossom - 3 piece party se...
PartyPoms
$15.00 USD
romantic coaster set for t...
MeMakeStuff
$10.00 USD
New color- Green and Brown...
ringopie
$36.00 USD
40% Off Winter Sale Baller...
alicebgarden...
$7.20 USD
Cranberry Glass Beaded Lar...
StoneandFibe...
$38.00 USD
Luxe Fresh Bamboo Green He...
mercibuckets
$14.00 USD
Aunt Bea's Bird Cage-E...
MontclairMad...
$20.00 USD
Maddy Bracelet in Green
MyOliviaJewe...
$12.00 USD

coaster color fun

2011-01-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

so, i have been having lots of fun celebrating the romantic side of squirrels and crows by using bright and vibrant colors...after all it is almost valentine's day, and what better way to say romance than with a colorful set of squirrel loves crow coasters...hubba hubba (you know what i mean???)

sluggy day

2011-01-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

baby, it's cold outside! at least it was yesterday morning when a friend and I went on a trail run (well...we like to call it running, but in reality we should probably call it walking with lots of talking and strange bursts of jogging randomly thrown in)

anyhow, i think the best reward for getting up and out early (7:20) on a sunday morning would have to be all of the quiet beauty we have seen. one time we were even treated to a double rainbow (yes it was intense...but mind you, i was on a runner's high).

i call yesterday's "run" the slug run because there were just about a trillion of them everywhere. i'm sure we committed slug massacre with our feet, we couldn't help it. i am also wondering if the slugs have cast some sort of voodoo on me as i feel like a slug today...hard to find motivation for just about anything.

love is in the air...at least it is on etsy

2011-01-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

oooh lala! i'm loving this etsy treasury that features my bird loves squirrel blocks...cute pink typewriter! what is a typewriter again?

Be my, be my little baby... my one and only... baby my darling... be my baby now...

Orange Kiss
firstlightph...
$25.00 USD
Skeleton Key To My Heart
michelleyap
$25.00 USD
PINK Royal Quiet De Luxe T...
meedily
$399.00 USD
bird loves squirrel handpa...
MeMakeStuff
$22.00 USD
The Purrrrrfect Pair
PinkPolkaDot...
$15.00 USD
Vintage Valentine Card 190...
texjamma
$7.00 USD
Pearl and Blackened Silver...
MichelleWey
$59.00 USD
Mirror Red Tulips Textured...
SylviaCPhoto...
$15.00 USD
romance - bracelet
ChiliCrab
$65.00 USD
Iodine Love Uranium Card
ShopGibberis...
$9.95 USD
Flirty Pink 1960s Lace Van...
LoverlyVinta...
$28.00 USD
felted heart love pebbles ...
SewnNatural
$15.00 USD
Be still my heart-romantic...
Raceytay
$30.00 USD
black hearts (set of 3)
sabahnur
$14.00 USD
All my heart are belong to...
Raceytay
$3.00 USD

Add caption

SWEETHEART-Red Magma Swaro...
BlondeChick
$24.00 USD

less is more

2011-01-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

i read an article in Sunset Magazine about a family living in Mill Valley, Ca that produces zero garbage in their home. and no, they don't just sneak stuff into neighbor's trash bins...
i can't get this family out of my head...i think they are undertaking a big job and they probably put up with a lot of eye rolling attitude from family and friends (although they do live in Mill Valley :)
anyhow, while i don't intend on producing zero waste, i would like for this family to produce less waste, and i intend to check out zero waste blog from time to time to keep me inspired.

case in point: this is a picture of our house post christmas...see what i mean? i think the zero waste family would be disturbed to see this.

holy cow

2011-01-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

wow. WOWOWOWOWOWOW!
so, the addition project is just about done, just a couple of little details are left to be finished. this is a picture of the new CRAFT ROOM. i am really freaking happy about this. i am in a little bit of shock as well.
it has been about 4 months of construction and now there is this beautiful open space...
i think that with all of the construction my energy was really occupied with the bare necessities of daily life..and now that the fellas are gone, i feel like a space is opening up inside of me as well as in our home. all of a sudden new ideas are coming to me as is the motivation to work on 'em.
YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. those are lockers i found in a DUMPSTER up on the wall, i can't wait to fill them with paint, scissors, fabric, glue, sparkly things, paper, ribbon, glitter, buttons, stamps, tape, things i can't bear to throw away, letters from special peeps, and i guess BILLS and boring stuff as well.....(basically all of the things i leave strewn about the house and drive my husband INSANE with...)

p.p.s. that is an old door we purchased at Urban Ore. We thought we were being so green and self righteous...ha! Joke is on us. the chemicals it is taking to get that freaking lead paint off (not to mention the potential health risks) is not what i would call green.

yo quiero mi fridita

2011-01-08T22:19:00.000-08:00

Baby Boot Camp Rocks

2011-01-06T08:46:00.000-08:00

moms and babes gathering up for some strength training

lunge/stroller walks

getting strong biceps for baby lifting

happy faces (i think this little fella and little lady should become sweethearts someday)

jogging with the babies

for a little over three years I have been an instructor for Baby Boot Camp. this is a very wonderful organization where mamas and their babies/children can come to fitness classes to get a much needed workout. or so it seems on the surface. what really happens is so much more than a workout.
being a new mom can be an incredibly isolating, scary, life changing experience...sometimes just getting out of the house to get a little grocery shopping done is the exact equivalent to get motivated to summit Mt. Everest.
so to come to a class where everyone on some level is experiencing those same feelings is soooo valuable. i can't tell you how many times a kinda haggard and tired looking new mom shows up to nervously introduce herself and her baby to the class and leaves BEAMING! i have so much respect for what it took for this lady to
a.get herself and baby to class on time
b. try something new
c. come to an exercise class
d. muster up the nerve to get in workout clothes and then SPEAK in front of a group of strangers!

what happens in these classes is obviously a workout which is great...i firmly believe that doing something active everyday keeps us sane. on the days when i can't get it together and don't break a sweat, i turn into a truly horrific person around 5pm. (just ask my family)

the other thing that happens has been fun to watch, all of the conversations...some silly and fluffy (wow, i have heard sooo much about American Idol, The Biggest Loser, Jersey Shores, Desperate Housewives of Wherever, i don't EVER have to watch any of them)
other talks have some meat on 'em, the kind of conversation that i realize is essential to emotional well being. i have seen lots of moms open up, become vulnerable in front of the other moms, to realize that they are surrounded by women going through the same issues. i have seen deep bonds form, and women who normally wouldn't ever be friends are connected for life through the shared experience of mothering.

so while a workout is crucial...that is the EASY part of Baby Boot Camp, the hard part, and the most important part, is realizing how much you need friends and support, and being brave enough to value yourself to make it happen.

yay area...reason #216 why i love this place....

2010-12-29T23:59:00.000-08:00

sooo good.

i love these two turkeys very much.

come in.

i'm lookin' at the ~~man~~ pre-schooler in the mirror

yeah..that's right...Bay Area!!!!

oooh-ahhhh

just so freaking pretty

we had a whale of a good time

it's in our DNA

wow! the crazy flurry of the holidays is OVAH!!!!!! (over). YES!!!!!! don't you feel calm...or calmer at least? that PRESSURE is gone (yeah yeah...it is all self induced...but it is still pressure...at least i'm not as bad as Natalie Portman, hangnail picker extraordinaire, (Black Swan, a very GOOD MOVIE...hello Oscar for Miss Portman, but what the hell? way too much pressure girl...)
Anyhow, it is time for this stressed out family to relax...and do things like visit the Lawrence hall of science in Berkeley.
Have you realized now just how much I looove California? And particularly the Bay Area? I know, I know...the entire world is really incredible but I feel so strong about this little piece of earth...YAY AREA! Such a sentimentalist!

nominations for good husband of the year

2010-12-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

well, this has been a really busy year for this family. i was fine with just skipping the holiday greeting cards, but my really good husband decided to take on this task all by himself. so, even though we aren't really even Beatles fans, and these really aren't the most attractive photos of any of us (well, maybe Boots looks good)...i give my fella lots of props for doing this. so can i please hear some more good husband stories that are pretty cute? please comment.

oh yeah...happy holidays.

sometimes love is where you least expect it...

2010-12-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

a heart puddle spotted in the park behind our house.

blue, blue, bluey, blue

2010-12-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

i really like blue. do you?

hey, please check out this interview for the upcoming craft show i am involved with....my husband says it makes me sound like a lush....

2010-11-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - An SF Etsy Event: Artisan Snapshot: Amy O'Brien of Me Make Stuff: "As one of the curators for the Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar, I take great pride in the fact that we exclusively hand-picked local artists ..."

holy freaking moly

2010-11-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

the most crucial part of the entire project...portable loo!

free (ha ha ha ha ha ha) entertainment for the girls...

notice the sense of complete overwhelmedness (yeah yeah, I know that is not a word) i am exuding in this photo

just hanging in the new space

coming along now!

hello! I have been a little crazier that usual lately...it is all good stuff but crazy making none the less. we are adding a new bathroom, bedroom and wait for it...wait for it...A CRAFT ROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this has been going on for about 2 months now, and i think the funniest part is how in the beginning i would get dressed in the morning before the carpenters (lovely fellows those guys) came. Now they get the real Amy...crazy pajamas, unbrushed teeth, bleary eyed, coffee guzzling me.

I can't wait to see the end result...this has been an overall very good experience...sometimes the noise and action do drive me batty but that really seems like a lucky thing to complain about...so, i will zip it.

ok, i will post more soon!!!!

front page Etsy...woo-hoo!

2010-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

Hey! You know what? This stoked me out! All of a sudden these chalkboard blocks started selling, then I realized they had made it to the front page of Etsy. I have been feeling a little blue lately but today things are turning around...a reminder to keep on trying.

I super love Amy Sedaris....

2010-11-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

ok, this is one of my most favorite ladies in all of the world...i love love love her...and her brother David Sedaris as well...How can two people both so funny come from the same family?

make it work...

2010-10-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

the girls in their reconstructed ugly thrift store dresses....(i'm sorry there is not a before pic....but believe me these dresses were bad!!!)

the girls in their garbage bag creations...

my niece, who was turning thirteen asked me to help her out with her Project Runway party.

Sure I said...and the next thing you know I'm pretending to be Tim Gunn for a day and saying things like "You know, the way that garbage bag bunches in the front gives me concern....you have to make it work" and "wow, the use of the duct tape as hem is quite original, you were really thinking outside the box, i think the judges will be happy...carry on" to a room full of teenage girls.

what I learned....

1. these girls were very creative.

2. I was amazed at the lack of fighting and snarkiness (i was really expecting the worst...)

3. if you pretend you are someone else for an extended period of time, it is hard to be yourself at the end of the party and you start freaking your niece out.... (ooops)

4. NO thirteen year old should EVER have a bellybutton ring

5. in fashion, one day you're in...and the next you're out!

carry on....

the sun'll come out....tomorrow!

2010-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

just thinkin' about tomorrow....

wow! look who is in the back of my car!!!!!!

not sure how the caveman fits in with little orphan annie and daddy warbucks, but don't they make quite a trio?

happy halloween everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!