This is a super cool picture taken by Philippe of his wife Soojin taking a picture of me. I don't know why but I love this picture. Together Philippe and Soojin comprise Jade Studio Photography and were such a pleasure to sit for: so nice, and so professional. If you are ever getting married in the Bay Area you should definitely try to get them to shoot your wedding, and they do portraits too. How often can you hang out naked with people you've never met before and feel totally comfortable?

Well, I've been doing a buttload of gardening/swinging a pick ax. The top picture is my inspiration for the leftover cut and broken tiles from the patio, mainly because they were already stacked there. So here's a couple pictures of what I have planted so far: plants & more plants. These plants include but are not limited to honeysuckle, hydrangea, rose of sharon, hibiscus, 3 Meyer lemon trees, mint (well controlled I hope), oregano, delphineum, butterfly bush. More to come. I also pulled a scraggly rose from the side of the house and plopped it in the middle of the herb garden because roses are herbs, right? I also picked up some extra delightful crap from garage sales to turn into garden art. And just in case you've started thinking I'm really as cute as I think I am in my cute pictures, here's one for the "oh, that's why," files.

How could I forget!!?

How could I forget!!?

Happy Summer Solstice everyone in the Northern Hemisphere! Enjoy the longest day of the year and feel free to dance naked around a bon fire or anywhere else you please!

Well now it's June, going on July so of course I find myself seduced by all things Autumny. I tend

Well now it's June, going on July so of course I find myself seduced by all things Autumny. I tend to be like this, a few months a head of myself even in summer, my favorite season. I don't know why it is so hard for me to stay in the moment! Anyway, I guess a lot of people are feeling like they have trouble enjoying because look what I found:

Keri's summer plans

because she in turn found:

Jen's list


So here is what I will do:

1. Tend my garden all summer. Just watch me!

2. Pretend I live in Tuscany. I have already planted 3 lemon trees.

3. I will leave doors and windows open all night and take cool baths.

4. Drink beer and eat olives and spanish sardines.

5. Take time off to be with Julie while I can.

6. Eat peaches.

7. Work on quilts when it's too hot outside in hippy summer dresses.

8. Plant honeysuckle and mint.

9. Stay up late when it's hot.

10. Be with my favorite people at Lake Berryessa.

11. Eat tomatoes with olive oil and basil.

12. Enjoy the patio at night.

13. Drink herbal iced tea out of glasses with ice in them.

14. Swim in everyone's pool who invites me.

15. Learn to make pie crust with my grandma.

16. Skinny dip. I have only done this once and I loved it. I hope I will have the nerve to do it again this summer.

care to check out the Designs on the White House finalists:

care to check out the Designs on the White House finalists.
My favorite is probably the "Don't drink and Vote," just because I like booze based humor. My serious favorite is probably the "If George Bush doesn't scare you..." one. I will definitely be buying one as soon as the finalists are chosen. Can't wait to wear it to my workplace full of conservatives on casual Friday!

this is probably my cue to read it:

this is probably my cue to read it:

http://www.rejoycedublin2004.com/

coincidentally it is written on a piece of paper on my desk to read it
soon

Did you ever wonder what I would look like as a sci-fi diva? Well here you go. I was trying to take another self portrait for my "look how hot I am" series but it turned out more grainy/too much flash. But I think I look pretty cool in molten metal or whatever. And, speaking of how hot we all are, I really liked this article from The Morning News about being confident with your natural assets.

Before

This is a picture of the barren wasteland I call a backyard, and my newest canvas for self expression/backbreaking work. I have been a bit stalled creatively lately since I have several projects bouncing around and only one budget for them all and I just couldn't decide which was the most important. So I put it to a group of friends and they sagely decided that I should garden first so the plants could get to growing while I worked on other things in the future. And they're right: if I put up a wall in my house it will be exactly the same in 2-10 years, but trees and shrubs will awesome by then (I hope). So another post with no point since even when I put everything I have planned in it won't look like much. Mainly we will use today's post as a comparison to posts I will make in the future i.e. year's down the line. Next year I hope to point to this archive with satisfaction!

And for something actually entertaining to likeminded people, well at least the really dorky ones: here is the first installment of what I plan to be another recurring feature: Kitty Porn (worksafe).

If there was ever wallpaper I needed, this is it. See 'Syrie.' Now if only I could get to New York

If there was ever wallpaper I needed, this is it. See 'Syrie.' Now if
only I could get to New York . . .



via
Apartment Therapy

Wishes

Wishes

Can you believe that if I bought everything on my Amazon wish list, it
would only cost me $205.26? Plus shipping and handling of course, but
still. That really makes me think that I should just try to buy all of
it the next time I have some extra cash to spare. I wonder what this
means? Should I wish for more things or should I be happy that I
already have everything I want except for what I could get with an extra
$205.26? Of course if I had real wishes I would probably never use one
for anything on my Amazon wishlist no matter how much I want that book
about jam or Weekend Knitting.

In my attempt to participate in the Amateur Gourmet's Bring Your Gourmet to Work Day. I have failed rather miserably. Since yesterday I happened to be at Trader Joe's right after reading his Pasta Pesto Peas entry I decided to grab a bottle of pesto and a bag of whole wheat penne and sort of go at it. And by "go at it" I mean I boiled the pasta and then dumped the pesto in there. I don't really like peas so I didn't put them in. It turned out pretty boring but I am eating it at work and I'm glad to have brought my lunch since I'm on a restricted budget due to buying a couch with a chaise and a half (1.5 chaises) stuck on the end. I've been living pretty happily on alternating cheese veggie sandwiches and peanut butter banana sandwiches, but this was a nice change of pace. So maybe the failure wasn't miserable, just not exactly "gourmet." Or maybe kind of gourmet, but heavy on the "amateur." Anyway, it keeps reminding me of this salad I used to buy at the CoOp downtown that was basically pesto penne but it also had little bites of chicken and chopped up sundried tomato in it. But with all these fancy ingredients we're sort of getting away from the whole point of eating less expensively. Here's hoping your gourmet experiment is more stunning than mine!

p.s. Last night I unearthed a seriously fuzzy and thick spider (like a baby tarantula with a giant body and stubby little legs) about the size of a ping pong ball hiding halfway down in my pile of steer manure bags. It was something I never would've imagined living in North America and I really wish I hadn't seen it.

This is a picture I happenned to stumble upon of my craft table in ultimate chaos in my old apartment. It made me feel kind of nostalgic and happy and like I need to get to fiber arting a whole lot more than I have been.

life is trippy sometimes:

At a party this weekend I met the nephew of this woman who is a Spy. He in turn is some kind of crazy theoretical scientist and he brought his granddaughter who is a ballerina and totally looks it (I made her eat one of my cupcakes). Here's what he said about me in his thank you note: "Julie, I enjoyed talking with your friend from Sacramento(?)-the one who made the cupcakes. She looks like a Pre Raphaelite painting."

There is actually no point to this post except that I was tickled that this cool old guy with the fascinating stories liked me!

I think I need to make these cookies pretty soon, maybe during the week or definitely this weekend. I have no idea what they may have to do with Neiman Marcus, or even what Neiman Marcus is now that I really think about it, but they look really tasty. I have been on quite the little baking binge lately:

5/31/04 - yogurt cake (I know it's supposed to be French but how long can I really be expected to remember all of those vowels?),

6/4/04 - rather pretty little cupcakes made from boxed yellow cake and topped with preprepared cream cheese frosting and coconut. Perhaps not the most homemade but they were very tasty and I was on a deadline. I guess I should've taken a picture, they were awfully pretty.

p.s. If you are going to take cupcakes to a party instead of strawberry delight, you should first ask the following:

a) will any of the hosts be providing a gigantic wedding cake sized cake with three layers;

b) will a renowned pastry chef be bringing or sending with her husband a cake which everyone will know to be extra delicious.

If the answer to either or these questions is "yes" you may want to reconsider bringing your rather pretty little cupcakes.

Cookie recipe via Chocolate and Zucchini.

Check out this hallway. I visited a house and the kitchen was actually painted this exact color. The girl had lots of cool turquoisey blue and white stuff in there to really set it off, like big colorful maps of South America with lots of pretty water. I vowed then and there that I would use the color as well, probably in the kitchen. (p.s. probably not until next year though. I am planning a minor remodel in the kitchen next Spring and don't want to mess with it much until then.)

7. Night with the windows open.

7. Night with the windows open.

6. The smell and texture of fresh mint.

I must say I am a bit of a Heidi Fleiss eater so I loved this comment:

I must say I am a bit of a Heidi Fleiss eater so I loved this comment:

"Do you really want to limit the enjoyment of your fine dining years so
you can extend the duration of your baby food years? Let's hope not."

Wimpy eaters are a serious pet peeve of mine. It's just food, it's
not going to kill you. Thank you Amateur Gourmet

things I love

Inspired by Nothing to Declare's list of 50 things she loves, I also will post 50 things I adore, but not all at once. Actually it will be more like Keri's list of new things she's learned, numbered and returned to periodically. Here are a few on my mind today:

1. Any opportunity for anyone to sing "Livin on a Prayer" out loud. I
got to last weekend.

2. The first day the tomatoes turn from green to kind of yellow and
orange flames.

3. Singing Air Supply and playing air guitar while driving the Bay
Bridge. (This is actually the only good reason to ever drive into San
Francisco.)

4. Washing my hands in cold water when it's hot.

5. Pedicures.

Can you believe just this morning this was a healthy happy plant? One day in Sacramento's early summer out of the ground but in it's appointed spot. And I just watered it yesterday! Time to get serious.

Check out my friend Charr's new blog. She's a fabypoo photographer and artist extraordinaire.

Here is a section of email correspondence between me and my bestfriend who just got her PhD in Chemistry.

J: Would you like to hear a passage from my thesis?
"The signal reaches a constant level, shown in hot pink... that's right, hot pink!" It's actually magenta but if I have the chance to put "hot pink" in my thesis, I'm not passing that up! I had to add the last part because Janette just challenged our whole lab to put hot pink in their thesis and
I decided it wouldn't be rebellious enough to just put hot pink anymore.

K: You are crazy! Yesterday one of our brokers dropped by unexpectedly to talk to me and I was wearing so much pink, inlcuding my new pink birkenstocks and my hair was in braided pig tails. I sort of wished I had worn something more businessy, but then I thought, "I underwrite in pink all the time, he'll just have to deal with it."

J: I really like this line, I think I'll use it:
"I do science in lipstick all the time, they'll just have to deal with it." Yeah!


And now you know what big dorks we are!

This morning I made the wonderfully simple yogurt cake created by Chocolate and Zucchini and further popularized by Super Eggplant. It was very tasty and seasonal since I picked up the raspberries at the farmer's market yesterday. Of course I didn't do any of the foo foo things the girls did since I was a bit hungover today but it turned out quite nice. In the future I will put in more raspberries (how much is 300 grams?) and keep powdered sugar on hand for Mariko's topping.

Look how big my little baby got! Here's a picture from one year ago. Lori's recent posts of her tabby have made me realize that I don't post about my cats nearly enough. It is my blog after all, why should I have to go elsewhere to see tasty tabby pictures.

Look how cool these projects are!

Look how cool these projects are!

Some are a little crazy (see Raising Catfish in a Barrel) but the Make your own Garden Bench and Build a Pond for under $4 ones are really cool. This is the type of stuff I'm into lately and I think there are probably a lot of people out there like me who want to do different stuff and are way beyond the glue gun stage.

This is my favorite:

Make a Ferro Cement Garden Bench

I took this picture to show off how cool my room looks with my new lamp from Urban Outfitters. But looking at the picture all I can think is how noticeable it is that I don't have a bedskirt. Which is so crazy because when I had that photo shoot last year with the photographer from the Bee, the only problem he mentioned (because he was super nice and understanding) was that I didn't have a bedskirt. Apparently bedskirts are more important than I thought.

This morning I enjoyed what may have been the best donut of my life. It at least deserved top 5 sta

This morning I enjoyed what may have been the best donut of my life. It
at least deserved top 5 status: a plain old fashioned with so much
chocolate icing on top it looked like it had been double-dipped, still
slightly warm inside. What a way to celebrate National Carb Awareness
Day even if it was technically yesterday.

I'm getting ready for a party at my house tomorrow! My best friend is
getting her PhD in Chemistry. Oh, I just realized the theme of the
party should've been "Smarty had a Party!" I've been looking up mojito
recipes and methods for making simple sugar. Yum yum!

Save the Carbs!

Save the Carbs!

He said: "if you have a website, please spread the word."
Today is National Carb Awareness Day!


What should we eat?

Thank You Tomato Man!

Thank You Tomato Man!

There's a guy in my old neighborhood who grows tomatoes, peppers, and
some herbs from seed and sells them from a stand set up on the road in
front of his house. The plants are sold in little red plastic cups and
cost $.50 each. The tomato man is very knowledgeable but I think better
at talking to plants than humans. I have been buying from him for years
now and have yet to get a straight answer from him. If you ask what
heirlooms he would reccomend he will explain the differing degrees of
newness and efficiency of the hybrids. I spent $7 and got 6 tomato
plants, some cucumbers, basil and a French Thyme. Check him out if you
are in Orangevale on Walnut about halfway between Orangevale Avenue and
Elm.

Predictably, my favorite part of Bel Canto is the Gen/Carmen scenario.

My little tomato plants are growing up so big! I bought 25 bags of steer manure for the back bed this week so I am hoping to get the tomatoes and herbs in this week. Next year I won't have to deal with the patio so I'll be a lot more on the ball. What's this Permaculture I keep hearing about? I think it may be for me, I'll have to do a bit of research.

In my ongoing ego-rant about how I'm so cute and why can't I get a date (because I know you want to hear it and I know how attractive men find women who whine about not getting dates), here's me prior to going on my blind date with the 40 year old.

I think I looked damned fine if I do say so myself.

That's right, he was 40! Unfortunately I will be continueing this line of blogging for the forseeable. You've been warned.

perhaps this stanza from May Swenson's poem will go on my coffee table one day:

perhaps this stanza from May Swenson's poem will go on my coffee table
one day:

"Take earth for your own large room
and the floor of earth
carpeted with sunlight
and hung round with silver wind
for your dancing place"

Published today on the Writer's Almanac:
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/

If I could have just one alternate reality in which I am not a homeowner in Roseville, CA. I would

If I could have just one alternate reality in which I am not a homeowner
in Roseville, CA. I would pick to live in New York City. In this
alternate reality I would be some type of computer designer or
programmer and would listen to an iPod on the subway. I would have to
visit the office weekly for creative meetings but otherwise I would work
from home with a mug of tea next to the computer. I would silk screen
my own indie t-shirts and have a balcony or rooftop garden stuffed with
tons of geraniums.

Apartment Therapy for the homeowner/hippy/farmer

Apartment Therapy for the homeowner/hippy/farmer

I've been reading this blog for a few weeks or maybe a month now.
While it is written to a NYC audience, I am finding that a lot of the
themes speak to me practically directly. I am interested in home as an
extension of self, a place where you can be calmed and thrilled and
rejuvenated. I am not interested in "matching" or doing anything the
subscribed way. The place where I live should be harmonious with the
earth and art should be a focus. Now I am struggling with killing my
lawn (the old fashioned way via hot Sacramento sun and no water). I
feel horrible that the neighbors must think I am a blight on their
neighborhood, but I don't believe in water sucking lawns in this climate
or in maintaining them for show.

alright I'm done with my meandering rant, go look at:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/index.html

the vacant stare:

the vacant stare:

Can you believe Amber won the all-star survivor? She has no
personality! That's love right there.

I don't even know if I can call this a knitting blog anymore. I haven't knitted in ages. But I did

I don't even know if I can call this a knitting blog anymore. I haven't
knitted in ages. But I did get news that my cousin will be going to
graduate school in Scottland. I will be visiting and hopefully buying a
lot of good Scottish wool. Of course I anticipate this trip taking
place next summer (2005), but it's never too early to get excited!

Well here's a picture of the crapass Saltillo tile I've been installing on my screened in patio in back of the house. It actually looks fine, just don't look too close. And if you're not a certified tile professional (seriously, you'd better have a real certificate) do not attempt to install this crap, it will make you sorry you were ever born. Here's a picture of my creative problem solving trick, used after I had to take the tile saw back to Home Depot when I realized the final tile would not fit. Like I said, don't look too close. And never use Saltillo unless you have a death wish.

I think I will have to get these Snacks panties for my sister for her birthday. We both inherited t

I think I will have to get these Snacks panties for my sister for her
birthday. We both inherited the same bootylicious genes so I like to
celebrate.


found via megan not martha

I can't wait to vote in this contest:

You've got democracy on your shirt!

nerds

Don't you love this idea! Nerds providing web applications. We can't figure this stuff out for ourselves you know. I wonder if they have any type of nerd dating outreach program. I'll have to look through the site.

and thank god I finally updated the color scheme

Finally, here's the sort-of-cute (it was supposed to be super-cute but whatever) picture of me with straight hair. Adam Busch of Common Rotation I hope you are reading this. I'm 5'7" and a literary snob who likes to dance on coffee tables at parties. Call me!

The picture doesn't look like much but trust me, I was super hot the day she flat ironed my hair.

I'm just going to keep posting since I haven't been able to for so long.

Here's an in progress shot of the little baby quilt I made for my next little god baby:

look who's back. Apparently my internet works now. Warning to people who live in places that suck (do not look, you'll be even more pissed off than you probably already are).


This is what Spring in Sacramento is all about. They sell these giant flats on the side of the road in my neighborhood. In April.

note to the world:

note to the world:

Never use Saltillo tile for anything. It is horrible and it will suck your life away. That's about 21 hours on my hands and knees talking.

You know it's bad when you go to your married guy friend for advice about dating (since you haven't

You know it's bad when you go to your married guy friend for advice about dating (since you haven't been to any base in over 2 years) and he says "you can start by taking that ring off your left hand ring finger." And this is so painful to you that even two days later you are still rubbing your naked white little finger and missing your ring.

The good news is that I bought a baby punk white patent leather bracelet with silver studs on it that is making me feel so punk rock.

I love this idea:

I love this idea:

SacforArt Barter

It doesn't really look like there are a lot of people bartering though.
I would like to participate, particularly in the coffee for art
exchange. I wonder what I could trade that would be comparable with
coffee?

This site is so tasty I just had to share it. Doesn't it make you want a giant claw foot tub so bad

This site is so tasty I just had to share it. Doesn't it make you want
a giant claw foot tub so bad!

Vintage Plumbing

Things have been so crazy and hectic and sad, but today on my way to the car I stopped and actually

Things have been so crazy and hectic and sad, but today on my way to the
car I stopped and actually counted 5 little green tomatoes on my tomato
plants with diameters about the size of a quarter. This weekend I'm
staying home to lick my wounds and feather my nest. And maybe a little
baby will come (I am expecting to be Auntie again in the next two
weeks).

I'm still here. I'm just insanely grumpy and my internet's still down.

I'm still here. I'm just insanely grumpy and my internet's still down.

I know you don't want to hear it, but my computer is broken. Waah! I have so many delightful pictu

I know you don't want to hear it, but my computer is broken. Waah! I
have so many delightful pictures I want to post.

Common Rotation

Common Rotation

Now that my posts are arriving again, I need to tell you. I went to a
show at Freight and Salvage last week and the opening act was so good I
bought two of their cds at the show and have not stopped listening to
them ever. Also, as a result I am now pretty in love with the dorkier
of the two singers, Adam Busch. They're called Common Rotation and here
is their website: http://www.commonrotation.com/

They do this folksy version of They Might be Giants' "Don't Let's
Start." It is really good. I am planning on buying at least one of
their cds for several people on my Christmas list and it's not even
Christmas yet, that's how good. And an excellent live show.

If I ever get my computer working again I am going to post a super cute
picture of myself so if Adam Busch is ever looking at this site, he can
fall in love with me too.

Check out this fabulous site:

Check out this fabulous site:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/main/archives/000215.html

Today's article about decorating outside of the box made my little
creative particles start agitating about.

p.s. I would never have heard of the site if I hadn't been reading:
http://www.megan.scatterbrain.org/notmartha/index.html

p.p.s. I am missing posts, hope this one shows up.

yum yum jewelry

yum yum jewelry

I just got a postcard in the mail that Laughing Mango will also be
having a show this Second Saturday (April 10) at Atmosphere. I went to
their show last summer and loved their jewelry! I also struck up a
conversation with Holly Wiese after she spotted knitting needles
sticking out of my purse and she is really nice. Then! I ended up
winning the door prize and won a gorgeous pair of earrings which I wore
all the time until I lost one. Curses! So I'm going, and now that I
have some spare cash I am definitely getting another pair of earrings.
And again, if you're in the Sacramento area this Saturday I reccomend
checking it out. Plus they serve wine for just one penny!

http://www.laughingmango.com/index.html

Sum:

Sum:

$200
+2 brawny teenage youths
+2.5 hours
= Death to Shrubberies!!!

I will have my tomato garden yet!

I don't think I've mentioned before my love for Mary Oliver. Check out this link for the first poem

I don't think I've mentioned before my love for Mary Oliver. Check out
this link for the first poem of hers I ever read:

http://www.poetryconnection.net/poets/Mary_Oliver/3127

excellent news:

excellent news:

One of the photographs my friend Charr took of me last week is already
going to be in a gallery show!

She'll be in the 20th Street Art Gallery on the Second Saturday
Reception, April 10th 6:30-9:30 p.m.
http://www.20thstart.com/default.asp

I guess they just decided over the weekend so she's not on the web page
yet. But here's a shameless plug for her cool website:
http://www.charrcrail.com

Please attend if you live in the Sacramento area and/or if you've ever
wanted to see me naked!

not the best news:

not the best news:

I finally faced the music and realized that I have a serious problem
with my internet connection, not just that service was out. So instead
of wasting my time on the phone again! I ordered the CD and it will be
here in 7-10 business days. So in the meantime still no pictures,
though I've been shooting like crazy.

visions of overalls are dancing in my head!

visions of overalls are dancing in my head!

I'm getting serious this weekend with a couple of sizeable shrubs and
putting a tomato garden where they used to be (will have used to be?).
If everything goes as planned I'll have a handsome heirloom tomato
garden complete with complimenary basil and some artichokes on the side
for future harvests. If everything does not go as planned I will need
to call professional gardeners about the shrubs.

Also, Saturday morning I get to attend the tree planting clinic put on
by Roseville Urban Forestry Foundation. They give Roseville Power
customers free shade trees after an initial demo and on site
consultation. Pretty cool, huh? I am getting two gorgeous Goldenrain
trees for the front yard and one little Saucer Magnolia (known as
Princess Trees to me and Julie) for the backyard, hopefully it will
provide shade right on my air conditioner when mature.

new knitty

new knitty

I love "bad penny," "honeymoon," and "rosebud." Now, if only I could
swing a honeymoon in Italy! (or actually a date of any kind)

it's sort of like I live in Tuscany sometimes

1. go to middle of the day step class with the stay at home moms (this
is not the most Tuscany part)

2. get a pedicure with sister and friend, godson picks out colors

3. buy a half flat of strawberries on the side of the road

4. make strawberry shortcake from scratch, including real whipped
cream

5. eat Indian food with sister and best friends

6. knit in the car

7. get a look at the coolest tangerine kitchen in the world, I hope the
pictures will turn out

8. play with sister's puppy

9. spend a day wine tasting in Napa with sister and favorite people in
the world, weather is perfect

10. have morning coffee with grandma and talk about tomatoes

11. buy jars for summer canning: strawberry jam and pickles

12. make quilt panels

13. pose for highly gifted photographer buddy

Ok, I snuk in an extra day and took Friday off since my sister was in
town. I still feel all sparkly.

Can I just say that after today's luncheon party at work, the only thing I am fit for for the rest o

Can I just say that after today's luncheon party at work, the only thing
I am fit for for the rest of the afternoon is taking off all of my
clothes and curling up on my side underneath my big puffy white
comforter. The comforter needs to be pulled up over my head so I can
sleep quietly without the sun getting in my eyes.

I'd also like to admit that I unbuttoned the top button of my pants,
right here, at work.

Um, I put in three tomato plants over the weekend. People always talk trash about Sacramento, but s

Um, I put in three tomato plants over the weekend. People always talk
trash about Sacramento, but seriously, how many people out there can
actually feel like they're getting a late start on tomato season by
planting actual plants on March 21st! I put in Early Girls and I made
sure to rip off the bottom set of leaves and plant them lower so they'll
have extra roots to feed the yum yum tomatoes this summer. And in case
you think three plants sounds skimpy, I'll be doing a giant bed in the
back full of heirlooms and romas for sauce, I just haven't had time to
rip out the sod yet. Have I mentioned how much I love summer?

tech geek meets crafty geek

I swear, it's ridiculous how much I love this stuff:

http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/underwood/

not my fault

well I've felt pretty bad about how little I've been updating my blog
and how I haven't had any good pictures or anything. I finally realized
last night that there's sort of a reason for this: my home internet
service has been down for like a week so I can't really do pictures or
anything snazzy. So that's why. It really has very little to do with me
being lazy or boring if that's what you think. And 80 degree weather
isn't distracting at all!

Well I finished the pocket flap on the Rogue and I think I'm on row 26 of the body underneath the po

Well I finished the pocket flap on the Rogue and I think I'm on row 26
of the body underneath the pocket. Other Roguers will know what I mean,
the rest of you will not. But I think the number of Roguers is in the
90s so probably a lot of people really will know. My boss finally
decided the color of the yarn is "coral" which I like better than
"salmon" as I was calling it. Fish may not be a good look. Since the
color is a bit sensitive I've been waiting to get a good bit to shoot in
good light before posting a photo.

The feeling of Spring is making my head all happy and dreamy but so far
the feeling hasn't worked it's way down to my fingertips. The
creativity is tingling all over but not prompting any action yet.

spring

doesn't it seem like all things are possible in spring! Everything will
come true in its own time, slowly uncurling toward the sun. Sacramento,
my chosen homeland, is enjoying a glorious week of perfect weather. I
feel I might burst with the excitement!

update!

I have finally started Rogue and after a bit of a false start (13 rows
on U.S. size 4 needles with 20 extra stitches?!!) I am on row 5 of the
body. Yes, technically that only means that I have done 5 body rows but
now that the pattern is started things are zipping along beautifully. I
got exact gauge on U.S. 5s but I wasn't sure about what size of the
pattern to make. The smallest size would have been snug but the next
bigger size I think would have been too big. I decided to knit the
smallest size on U.S. 6. It'll give me a little extra room and I won't
have to knit a whole garment on 5s, that's just a little too small for
my taste. Oh, and my kool-aid dyed wool is knitting up very nicely with
a subtle variegation that's muted by the fact that I'm holding two
strands together.

The only sad thing is that I seem to be unable to join any Yahoo
groups. I can't sign up, I think I may have some type if cookie blocker
that won't let the right secret things happen for me to get in. So I
can't participate in the Rogue Yahoo group. I know there are a bunch of
people making this but the only one I've seen is Claudia (link to be
added later) who is already practically finished. I think she's my
hero.

Since I haven't done anything interesting lately, here's a pic of something interesting I did a month or two ago. This is my friends Leah and Allyn's pug Miles. Allyn designed his spiffy ocean camo jacket and I helped with the execution. Click here for a side view of the jacket including the general stars Allyn added. We're very proud of this jacket since we designed it from scratch and custom fit it to Miles, who is not even 1 yet and not the most patient model. This is the second in a series of coats we've been making for Miles, the first was a khaki ripstop nylon with black fleece lining, it was a more basic model without a collar.

p.s. I'm finally swatching for Rogue. Boy, that February's a killer! I think the arrival of Girl Scout Cookie Season has helped immeasurably.

February: When all the juice is sucked out of life.

February: When all the juice is sucked out of life.

I have a very big weekend coming up. My new roommate is moving in, my best friend is coming over, a

I have a very big weekend coming up. My new roommate is moving in, my
best friend is coming over, and I have a blind date with a librarian on
Sunday night at Thai Basil. Plus it's supposed to be rainy so we'll
have a big fire in the fireplace and hot cocoa and a trip to Grandma's
to top it all off. Marie loaned me her swift and ball winder so I'll
wind my double dyed Rogue wool as well. The color didn't turn out
brooding, but I'd call it zesty now.

Note: If you ever want to get a phone call, just dump four big
cannisters of kool-aid into the sink, get it all wet and sticky and
grody, and spread it on everything up to your elbows. The phone will
ring immediately and repeatedly.

Oxymoron

Well, the Rogue yarn came out of the microwave pink. The pink is
definitely an improvement over the dingy ecru the yarn was when it
showed up from ebay. But I sort of feel like "Rogue" and "pink" are
opposites. I had hoped for a brooding ruby red. It is very embarassing
buying bulk kool-aid along with your organic milk. It is more
embarassing to buy two big canisters and then have to go back in two
days for two more big canisters.

p.s. Elizabeth Arden beware: the sweet smell of kool-aid blended with
the wintery smell of wet wool should not be featured in any designer
fragrance. Ever.

I'm in and I already feel so behind. But who cares, have you seen the pattern? It's gorgeous!

Here's the new kitchen floor I did over the weekend. Just feel the love! Here's a picture of during, when I had the appliances out. You can kind of see the old stuff underneath. Not too cute. This stuff is really cheap, it's actually self adhesive and I've swept about 14 times since I tidied up on Sunday, it shows everything. Basically all you have to do is a bunch of prep, and then lay it down. I probably spent 50% of the time on prep including taking the appliances out, ripping all the molding and carpet edging, and sweeping and mopping so the adhesive would stick to the floor instead of the dirt. Then I only spent 10% of my time putting the squares down and the last 40% cutting all the little edge pieces. My friend Jaya came over to help me put the appliances back so that actually only took a sec. To tell the truth, the carpet isn't neatly tacked down yet, but I'll get there. I really love the results, I love the graphic crispness. Here's Sabine enjoying the floor, she also has an appreciation for graphic cripness.

p.s. Right now I have yarn in the mircrowave, the Rogue finally arrived!

Don't you love it when you go to your high school prom and you're having all this drama with your fr

Don't you love it when you go to your high school prom and you're having all this drama with your friends, the person you trusted the most just betrayed you, and then a choreographed group dance breaks out in the middle and everybody has an awesome time rocking out? I do. At least I love it when that happens on teeny bopper movies shown on cable while I'm putting a new floor in my kitchen.

to doctors

Doctors: if a patient comes in to see you with a problem SHE is having, please do not regale her with tales of how you had a similar problem but did not treat it because your life is so much more important. Seriously, I do not think this treatment method is reccomended in Medical School. And I think the reason it is not recommended is because it is pointless and kind of rude.

Love!

Since I'm not married or in any type of romantic relationship, I have this whole weekend for personal party. What I've decided to give myself for Valentine's day is a new vinyl kitchen floor in a black and white checkerboard pattern. The weather looks kind of iffy this weekend, but I hope for sun so I can get some good pictures of the process.

p.s. when will my yarn arrive? I keep seeing pictures of started Rogues, they're torturing me!

looking good

I got my eyebrows waxed on Friday and the woman was so thorough she made sure to rip some of the skin off of both of my eyelids. In addition I have a nice booger-posing zit sticking out of my nose and stress induced hives on my eyes making me look like I got punched in the face. I know you're wild with desire but, Gentlemen, try to control yourselves.

signs from the universe

Reasons why I should get a dog:

1. Just reread Pam Houston's "Waltzing the Cat." That book always makes
me want a dog.

2. Went to book club for "Waltzing" and Gail had a new dog, so mellow.

3. Chicknits dog discussion.

4. I do have my own house now, with fenced in yard. (except for the
part that blew down in a storm last month)

I grew up with dogs. I'm not a cat person now am I? Am I?

did anyone ever watch that show called Sledge Hammer? I just remembered that. It would be on Satur

did anyone ever watch that show called Sledge Hammer? I just remembered
that. It would be on Saturdays or Sundays when I was a kid (we did not
have cable) but it looked too crappy even for me to watch. I've never
heard anyone mention it, then or now.

let's get physical, physical

Tonight I start a thrice weekly (that's right, I said "thrice") Step
Aerobics class! Since I am not overweight to start with, I anticipate
that by the end of the month I will be totally toned and buff. How could
I not be? This is so exciting! I also think that by the end of the
month, when I am toned and buff, it will be Spring and I can start
wearing skirts and tank tops. There may be a slight break in my logic.

baby steps

1. Over the weekend I did a little stripey to put under my arm on that
cabley number I was working on in the fall that was too small. I tried
sewing it together and it looked terrible, I think I need to use real
finishing techniques for this one. This is particularly true becasue
I'm attaching a ribbed panel to a body piece that is ribbed at the
bottom and then reverse stockinette stitch to the armpit. With a little
waist shapping thrown in. Just typing that makes me think I should've
matched the strip to the pattern on the body piece; but I ribbed it to
make it extra stretchy. I think I need to rip.

2. Last night I free motion quilted another panel on my grandma's
quilt. It was one of those sessions when my machine decides to do all
this grody stuff on the actual quilt after I've tested the stitch on my
practice piece and it looks great. I hate that! But only two more
panels left.

that's it!

I hereby ban anyone from Iowa from coming within 50 yards of me!

This is a picture of the cool cup I made at Petroglyph. My boss took me for my birthday (belatedly, we've been busy) and it was so fun! They play 80's music and you hang out and paint until closing. We had wanted to bring adult beverages but apparently there was an "incident" and they don't let you do that any more.

Iowa

For the last few years people have been coming into my life continuously who have some connection to Iowa: either moving there, moving from there, grew up there, etc. Living in California, this is sort of a big coincidence. Each of these people has ignited either a little or a lot of hope in me and each time it has been disappointed. I used to say Iowa owed me something and I was waiting for it to pay up, now I wonder if it just hates my guts and what I might have ever done to it. Another chance is coming up, we'll see what happens.

After catching "Weird Science" on cable over the weekend, I've decided that Anthony Michael Hall in

After catching "Weird Science" on cable over the weekend, I've decided that Anthony Michael Hall in pretty much any 80's movie is my IDEAL BOYFRIEND. He's sweet, funny, intelligent, dorky, and pretty much worships his chosen lady. Plus he has that adorable lispy way of talking. I acually had a pretty (read VERY) racy dream about him on Monday night that my cat interrupted at a very inopportune moment.

This is my weekend project. The short, and really only, version is that I painted the hallway, then put up a piece of lace and spray painted over it like a stencil. (can you see my cool shower curtain! it was a housewarming gift from Marie and Natashia) I think it turned out cool, it kind of makes me wish I still had the kind of parties where you make out in hallways because what else is there really to do in the hall?

Click here for a picture showing the green stuff from a distance with the glitter in the entry doing it's thing! Pay no attention to the mess, but do note the elusive Sabine on the little couch.

Cautionary note: spray paint is one bad mother. If you get it on anything it will not wipe off with a damp rag. It will however blow all over the place and coat everything with a fine layer of green dust. I still have spray paint on my hands in spite of exfoliating strenuously and my thumb is raw from pressing down the button. Also, make sure you get enough lace. I have a 12" problem to solve.

inexpensive things that I am too scared to buy because of the Mortgage Monster:

inexpensive things that I am too scared to buy because of the Mortgage
Monster:

Moleskine journal
Buela, Yoko CD
Thicker than Water CD
Koigu for new Chicknits hat
new Chicknits hat pattern
Acrylic paint

If you know anyone who is looking for a room to rent in Roseville
(Sacramento Area), please email me. I'm looking for someone to rent a
room in my house. I'm really nice, honest!

reading

The Da Vinci Code (you'd think I'd remember how to spell davinci now
that I'm over halfway through the book, but no.)

This book is perfect for the winter version of 'beach reading:'
Hybernation Reading! A page turner that will NOT let you get out from
under the blanket on the couch, you have to keep reading it. So fun!

p.s. I did work on a special crafty project over the weekend but I
don't feel like I have a great finished picture yet so you'll have to
wait. But it did turn out cool. It also turns out that I have green
paint in my ear this morning as well as up my nose?

for the weekend:

cheap lace, 3yds
blue glitter . . .

you'll see!

Maybe now

I've had the nagging feeling for about two or three weeks now that I
need to get a journal going again (my "little book" as a friend used to
call it disgustedly!) and that I need to start drawing and in particular
painting. I've actually never painted and only drawn in college back
when I started as a design major. Back then I didn't trust myself to
make art right out of my body so I tried to hide in things like
photography: I hoped the image would make some sense on its own and I
wouldn't have to actually create anything. The whole thing freaked me
out so much that I switched to writing. I guess it's taken this long
for me to get comfortable.

Winters Tale

I think my ancestors hybernated during the winter. It may be that I am
descended from bears insead of primates. The only thing I have been
able to motivate myself to do lately is cook, soup primarily and a
little hot cocoa, so I have tasty things to eat while snuggling on the
couch under a blanket. And while I hybernate crafty visions swirl:

Wall mural depicting medieval unicorn
Green hallway paint, using lace as a stencil
Covering the house in jasmine come spring

what I needed to hear

"One composes within oneself one's true place of origin."
-Rilke

Thanks Ms. Smith
http://www.kerismith.com/blog/archives/000052.html

when I see things like this . . .

href="http://www.bolgenlaw.com/2004_01_01_blogarchive.htm#107409600253389877">Pumpkin
Spice

It really makes me want to work on the sweaters I've started and never
finished.

So far so good. Here's a highlight of the quilting on Grama's quilt. Like the part on the top left where I'm ripping? Free motion quilting is very difficult to rip because the stitch size isn't regulated and can get really tiny. I'm not sure if you can tell but the flowers are done in red thread and the crazy stuff is purple.

Creating Magic

I watched that movie "Autumn in New York" on cable over the weekend. I think that's the name, with Winona Ryder and Richard Gere? How many times can this story be told? But my point is that once again one of these crappy romantic films has a kick ass set designer. I need to recreate the magical hanging mobile in Winona's character's room. It looks like it's made by dangling at least 40 strings of decreasing lengths of silver and crystal beads from a 2' long bar and putting windchimes on the bottom. Then hang in the middle of your gigantic New York loft. You can breeze through it when feeling magical or bump into it to add a note of charm to your clutziness: say when that fetching stranger three times your age happens to call, catching you off guard.
It could happen, you're creating magic!

Here's a pretty blurry picture of the cool faux finish I ended up doing in my bedroom. I used the technique called "colorwash." Which involved putting the glaze on with a brush and blending in a cross hatching "X" motion. I really like how it turned out, now I'm not depressed about my paint every morning when I wake up. I used Maroon glaze over the paints I already mentioned: a total of 3 coats. The good news is that the glaze didn't take longer than the regular paint.

p.s. I did some real work on grandma's quilt this weekend and I forsee it being done by the weekend!

searching for magic

searching for magic

maybe this will help?

dannygregory.com

art begets art

I finally got up and started the final painting of my bedroom. I had
initially painted it a dark hot pink: "royal love." The coverage was
really streaky but I called it fine for the time being because I had a
housewarming to get ready for. Last night I painted a coat of "purple
passion" on top of it and the color is much mellower and spicier at the
same time. Like it knows it's sexy and doesn't have to shout. The
coverage still isn't perfect so I think I'm going to try putting a glaze
over so it will be textury on purpose. That felt so good that this
morning in the shower I had a million quilt ideas including a design for
the baby quilt I'll be making and a free motion pattern for grandma's
quilt (still not finished!).