Degree's of Separation

As usual, its nearing midnight and my mind is very awake. I was editing a photoshoot I recently completed, but then was lured into the wiles of the internet and fell into a lull.

I'm blaming Facebook for my current emotional condition - feeling anxiety over art projects incomplete, yearning for friendships that never included me except by the brush of proximity, a strange vision of being outside the snowglobe when all I have wanted was to be inside…oh, I could go on and on. Silliness. After about 10 minutes on Facebook, these feelings bubble up and build upon each other.  After I shut the whole thing down, I feel better.

and yet, i keep looking at the drama of social networking. Its just a modern-day version of "keeping up with the Jones" except its worse than olden days because now I know everything about the jones, smiths, robinsons and all of THIER neighbors.

I get a serious complex. 

Its this demented reality - intangible and distant. 

I have this great life. I am on a personal pace. I'm pretty happy. Yet, when I get distracted and start looking around at what is going on with all kinds of other people, trouble ensues.

So, Facebook and I are separating. 

I've thought about doing this before, but this time I'm serious. I have way too much to do and I cant afford to get distracted.

So, if you're following this blog, independent of FB, great. If you're here because I told you to come here rather than my FB page. Excellent. Leave a comment. If you're just stumbling upon me, please say hi!

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Love

   

This is how i imagine love:

public, yet a secret kept between two hearts

romantic like old cobble stone streets and colonial brick walls

red: rosy and warm

caught in an alley

noticeable - if you're looking

tangible

happy - like the faded memories from a 1970's camera

love.

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Two Turtle Dove

I am a bit behind in my posting! Ergo, two posts tonight...

I have been hand - crafting lately, which has been good for the soul, but negligent in the sleep department. So, before I rush off to bed I am going to go ahead and post this on here.

Delightful charms/pendants

And a hair pin, just in time for the holidays!!

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I'm Dreaming of a PINK Christmas...

7 days before Christmas and I am up late, crafting up a little tradition....

Yes. Finally. The 2010 Pink Tree is done.

So, sis, this post is for you! This years creation is courtesy of a ginger beer bottle, tissue paper, pink wrapping paper, a little bit of ribbon and a whole lot of hot glue. How I LOVE hot glue....

Merry Christmas Everyone - May your hearts and homes be full of light and color!

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Warmer for my Legs

Almost overnight, the weather became officially "east coast cold." Being a transplant to the DC area, I still reference my coastal roots and constantly realize the ever-different weather patterns.

Yesterday was full of snow flurries and a wind that was so cold it stripped me of any warmth in my body.  Yes, its officially winter if anyone was in doubt.

My solution? Legwarmers.  The idea? I've had a sweater (which by itself would be ill-fitting and not attractive) sitting on my project pile for a couple weeks now. I've been intending to create a skirt from it.  I stole the idea from another blog. This morning, I began work on that project. After cutting the arms off, I realized the potential amid the warm woolen stitchery.

"The 80's would be jealous of these legwarmers."

So, yes, I whipped these up this morning before work. Here's how you can protect your legs from the chill (or just have some cute oversized "leg - cowels")

Step 1: Find an old sweater. The thrift store is an excellent place to start. Or maybe your roomate's closet.

Step 2: Cut off the arms. Nothing I do is an exact science, but its best to stick along the seaming. 

Step 3: Begin stitching along the cut portion.  I used some fun contrasting medium weight yarn. I hand stitched the seam in true Tim Burton-esque fashion.

Step 4: Continue stitching along the top.  The extra portion of the sleeve that isn't stitched together can be folded down when you're wearing the warmers, so this is just for decorative purpose.

Enjoy!!! These are nice & toasty on such a cold winters morn/afternoon/eve!!!

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Dec-Orate the Hall with boughs....

Merry 3rd day of December! 

Below I have posted some pics of what the downstairs of my house looks like.  The mantle and tiny kichtke scene are my little brainstorm and heart.  After seeing some lovely ideas from the inspire co blog (check it out) I truly was inspired to create my own little “scene.” My roomate and I were up late bringing Christmas to the house.

I am currently doing a special little scene up in my bedroom. I am converting my dresser top into a fairy-like Christmas scene.  No pictures yet - I still am nowhere near being finished. But, its looking wonderful! This takes me a little longer because I have to make the main tree that will live there.

You see, my sister and I now have a Christmas thing. I buy her random jell-o molds and she insists that I create a pink tree. Every year. Every year!

How did this start? Strangly this evolved while participating in another annual sister tradition - the day after Christmas shopping. Forget all the craziness of black Friday, we hit the scenes after Christmas. Its always a ton of fun.  And we each find lots of treasures.  But, I digress.

So, about 3 or 4 years ago during one of these adventures - I found a baby pink feather tree. Since pink is my favorite color and I had just moved into a non-roomate living abode, I immediately snatched it up. My sister laughed. In a “i-love-that-you’re-my-crazy-quirky-buy-random-arsty-fartsy-sister” type of way.

It kinda stuck. The next year she saw a craft project with a Styrofoam and tissue tree. Which gave her the idea for ME to craft a yearly tree. That was pink. She doesn’t care about the color or the size - she just likes to have the carrot of a craft challenge in front of me. I dont mind.  Every year since, she asks about that what my tree is for the year (so does her daughters). 

Even with advance notice, I still seem to wait until December to craft up the tree.

But dont you fret. The goodness is coming. And this year I will even post a tutorial of how-to!

 And a picture of our lil' tree! We had fun putting up colored decorations and a bright pink star at the top! And since our house is full of singing, we invited our caroling friends to the party~

Merry Christmas!!!

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Current Obsession

Tonight I made my first adventure into the land of eBay.

I suppose that is weird for a modern gal such as myself.  But, as a lover of the thrift store hunt, I have been hesitant to delve into electronic shopping for vintage treasures.

But, seeing as it was late into the evening, past the open hours of my neighborhood goodwills  - and my creative impulses were wide awake, I opted to give it a whirl. Tonights obsessions?

Cute little vintage ornaments & birds:

and ...

BarkCloth

Yes, I have these on my "watch" list.  Aren't the patterns lovely? There is something so magical about the creamy, heavy texture of this fabric.  Combined with incredible patterns this material sends me straight to heaven!

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