Cashmere

I used to think I wanted a really nice thick terry cloth robe. I was wrong.

Cashmere. I want a cashmere robe.

Ebay has a nice selection. Just think how cozy it will be to lounge in my cashmere robe?

Handmade for the Holidays

Finally, Handmade for the Holidays is almost here. I am super excited. I've handed out every single postcard, hung posters and sent a load of emails. I am ready. A co-worker reports daily how many times she saw the commercial and any other bit of publicity she notices.

It will be GREAT!

I have a nice holiday display lined up. Pictures will follow on Sunday.

I have be an absent blogger due to the workload, creating, shopping, planning...

happy Thanksgiving

The zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday. Here are some pictures and a video.

They opened the new Gorilla exhibit on Monday and had special early viewing for members. The exhibit is great, a lot like the Chimpanzee exhibit.

While we were standing watching the apes, a woman turned to me and said "excuse me". I leaned in to hear her and she asked me to pick up her child and place him on her shoulder. I looked at her, then at her kid and said no. She replied, really, you won't? No.

WTF? Why would I want to pick up your 4 year old kid, lift him up 4 feet and place him on your shoulders? Hell no.



A lion pooping. Everyone else was shitty, the kids, their diapers, the moms so why not the lion. I assume the lion was pooping because he walked around and kicked dirt all over behind where he was standing after he was finished. Like a cat does after pooing in the litter box. And then the girl lion went and stuck her nose in his butt, I don't know what that means.

I don't really like the color in these, I'm still learning with the new camera. It was dusk, I'm sure there is a setting. We look jaundiced, and our teeth are not that yellow!

Happy Halloween

My entry into the pumpkin decorating contest.


Proud First place winner!!! $75.00


Morton's Salt Girl. I should have stood just like her, but whatever, I'm more than satisfied with the pumpkin winnings!

Personal Day

Tomorrow is a personal day. I decided Wednesday to ask if I could take Friday off, it was no problem.

On the to do list

1. Michael's Arts and Crafts. This is employee appreciation week at Michaels, and it seems that I'm an employee. All I have done is shown my work, filled out a bunch of paperwork and complete a 70 question quiz about stealing, smoking pot and having issues with authority. Check, Check and Check. I passed with fling colors. It was much like the MMPI, but for people who work at Michaels. Honestly, it made me uncomfortable. But I digress.

So Employee Appreciation Week at Micheal's means 50% off my complete purchase. That's right, 50% off my ENTIRE purchase! I plan to take advantage and restock my supplies.

At some point in December I will teach a class, it is nice to be appreciated in advance.

2. Laundry.
3. Sleep in past 5:30 AM.
4. Make 20-200 items for goody bags for the Handmade for the Holidays. 200 is pretty ambitious, but that is what I'm shooting for. It is worth it. 200 people will have my business card and a little slice of clay with a hole in it. I plan to do an abstract flower. They can hang it on something or whatever. I'm sure I'll also make a few beads and maybe some other fun easy things.

5. Make a pot of crock. For that I need to go to the grocery store. So I imagine the day will start with a trip to the grocery store and maybe jamba juice. I think pot roast will be on the menu. Or maybe I'll be a super good wife and try to replicate Matt's mom's chicken and biscuits recipe. Never having had it, nor knowing what it tastes like will likely be an issue.

I'm looking forward to a nice day off!

So much going on

I've been approved to begin teaching a polymer clay class at Michael's. Now to come up with a lesson plan and a project. It is hard to think beginners. I plan to teach my first class in January. I hope that works with their schedule. If not, that'll have to do. I'm busy busy busy.

First up
10/21/07
Barnsdall Art Park October Arts and Crafts fair. Sadly, I cannot find one single thing about the fair online to link you up. I doubt that is a good thing. Let's hope that the word is out in other ways.

10/27/07
John Burroughs High in Burbank. Their first arts & crafts fair. I haven't a clue what to expect, but its local and inexpensive. The funds support the school arts, so that is good.

11/10/07
Craft Republic This one is at the fair grounds in Pomona. I'll rock the Inland Empire.

11/23/07-11/24/07
Handmade for the Holidays This should be awesome. The day after Thanksgiving and at the busiest intersection in Hollywood? Across the street from the Grove (big mall) and they will flyer every car to inform them of our fantastic handmade items. No lead here.

12/7/07-12/8/07
Fashion Co-Op Holiday I'm super excited about this show! I was invited to vend at another event this same week in December. That event looked just as awesome, but it came with a hefty price tag. I debated all weekend long what decision I would make, do I risk it and go for it, or not. I was still on the fence when I learned I was accepted into the Fashion Co-Op show. Hooray. This show was a third of the price of the other, and it will be just as great. It's at the same exact location of the other show, so I still get to experience showing in Santa Monica.

So all of that and my full-time job and holiday stuff! My job, btw, is going great. I'm learning a new responsibility and things are just great.

Random on a Thursday

Emma slipped jumping up to the ledge above our sidewalk. I had her on a short leash and I didn't see that she wanted to jump up, so of course I feel totally responsible. She is walking a little off, but I'm sure she'll be fine. Just a little sore maybe. Poor baby. I feel terrible.

I redesigned my website and put up a blog just for submissions to art shows. You can look at them if you so choose.

www.jjmhandcrafted.com
www.jjmhandcrafted-art.blogspot.com

Tonight for dinner we are having grilled artichokes and grilled zucchini. The zucchini has been marinating for a few hours in a combo of Cabernet, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and various spices. I know I have two acids, the wine was an after thought. I will sprinkle the artichokes with Parmesan and salt and pepper.

This website freaks me out. Are you left or right brained?
clockwise or counter

Tomorrow is our 5th wedding anniversary. The traditional gift for number 5 is wood. I got my DH a wood plank cookbook and cedar and alder wood planks. You can't get much more wood than actual pieces of wood.

Tomorrow we might go to the fancy restaurant just down the street. I need to find the menu to confirm its stuff we'd like to eat. We can get all dress up and walk over and toast to our love and commitment.

Artwalk Pictures

From the Fall 2007 Brewery Artwalk



















Thanks to Sara for taking some of the pictures.

The Brewery Artwalk

It's this weekend. October 6 & 7.

I'm in building 624, come visit me and see some art.

Goals

I have a goal to do 2 or 3 art/craft shows per month between now and the end of the year.

I have applied to a bunch and I'm awaiting replies for some and gearing up for others.

This weekend is the Brewery Artwalk! My most favorite show ever.

I hope I hear all positive things from all the other shows, no rejections, please.

Business

I'm gearing up for the fall/winter art show season. I've applied to a few that I should hear back from in the next week. I've been accepted to shows at a couple new events. Sometimes those are great, sometimes not so much. But each time I do show I learn something new to take with me the next time.

I've also decided it is time for some professional pictures. I've selected 10 items to start. My frustration with images knows no bounds. The color is off, the white background is yellow, the detail is lost.... Or I spend an hour or so editing the image. I do not enjoy it. So time to outsource. The person I've selected takes AMAZING pictures. I have given her free will to do what she wants creatively. I know my best work is when someone gives me a general idea and says go for it. So I've submitted the items and I just cannot wait to see what she comes up with.

Of course I'll post the images here!

Newsy

We have a GREAT time in San Francisco with my parents. We walked all over the place, ate loads of good food, and laughed a ton.

We were in Union Square late on Friday night waiting in line for the trolley. A nice toothless man with a pocket full of city guides sold us some tickets to ride. Willie Sparks was his name, played drums in Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station. Upon Willie's suggestion Matt googled him when we got home and he could be who he said he is. Anyway, we gave him money for tickets he got from people who were done traveling for the day, or found on the ground, or garbage. Nice niche he's cut out for himself.

I ate BACON and STEAK!!! Really, really good steak. Dry aged for 6 weeks, so tender and moist. YUM. That did it for me, no need for meat for a while.

I am sad to report that the second big art weekend I had planned in October has been canceled. The Rotary Club of Studio City decided to cancel the event due to road and bridge construction at the location of the event. It makes sense, but I was really looking forward to doing my vary first local show. Oh well, maybe in the springtime.

In good news, since that show has been canceled Matt and I can go away for our FIVE year anniversary. That makes the cancellation AOK in my book.

I'm planning to do a few other various one off events throughout the holiday season, I'm super excited. I hope to do more shows than EVER.

I guess that is it. I'll post pictures later.

Carnivor

We are still doing pretty good with the no meat diet. It has been 256 days.

I had a tiny bit of prosciutto when my sister was visiting in April. And fish a few times here and there, but no ham, no chicken, no steak. No ribs, no fried chicken and no bacon.

But this weekend.... ANYTHING GOES.

Bacon, I love you. I'm sorry we've been apart for so long. Even though we haven't hung out in a long, long time I think about you almost everyday.

I'm not bacon obsessed, ok I am, but I think about bacon a lot because I walk past the little cafe every morning and can smell the bacon as I pull into the parking garage. It isn't MY fault.

And then I get emails and catalogs from Vosges, I mean just look at this picture


How could you not think about bacon when you pull this out of your mailbox? I'm not saying, ok I am saying, that I want to eat that chocolate bar.

I've been ordering from Vosges Chocolates ever since my dad bought me a Red Fire Bar after touring the History of Chocolate exhibit at the Natural History Museum in early 2003. Vosges Chocolates make kick ass chocolate. Freaking expensive, but still kick ass chocolate.

So meat, whether you are drenched in chocolate and are of the bacon variety, or even if you are a fillet from a cow, wrapped in bacon, watch out I have my eye on you.

Temptation Debuts

I watched the premier and second episodes of Temptation. It was much better than the Idol show.

I was shocked to see Mark on the second episode. Mark is the man who won, and won, and won the day that I was bumped. I'm excited to see the people I hung out with get stomped.

It is fantastic that I was bumped that day! He is on FIRE. Seriously. He hit the buzzer every single question in an entire round.

I still do not know when I will air, maybe next week I'll hear. I imagine it will still be in the later October early November time frame.

Have you watched yet?

A Wrinkle in Time

RIP Madeleine L'Engle

You meant a lot to my childhood. Thank you for being so patient and agreeing to sign stuff my dad would bring to you at the Episcopal Church general convention. Deborah and I treasured those autographs!

Travel safely with Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin throughout the galaxy.

San Francisco

Matt and I are meeting my parents in San Francisco next weekend.

I have been nominated to plan all of our activities. I am the only one in the group to never visit NorCal. Sooo Excited!

I've been doing lots of research via yelp.com, love that yelp. I've also asked everyone I know what they think we should do.

So far my number one choice for one evening is a 3 hour walking GHOST tour of Pacific Heights.

weekend recap

HOT HOT HOT

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT

HOT

It is very challenging to make polymer clay cooperate when it is all soft and warm. But I did make 15 new make up brushes and a couple of pendants. Everything is buffed and ready to go!

Best. Day. Ever

Seriously. I love game shows!

Temptation, the New Sale of the Century airs next Wednesday here on My Network TV, or what ever it is called, the old UPN network channel. They have 2 prime time episodes on the 5th, then beginning on 9/10 2 episodes everyday, check local listing for channel and air times. In LA it is on FOX 11 from 2-3.

My episode will probably air in November. I will find out for sure in 2 weeks. For dvr reference, my episode number is 1GT073 or 73.

I cannot report if I won, or what I may have won, or did not win for that matter. So tune in to find out! I promise you will not be disapointed, it is a thrilling game!

Today!

Today is game show day!!! It is almost 6 am. I had a dream that I was still getting ready and it was almost 9, since I need to be there at 7:45 I totally freaked out. But it was just a dream so I'm safe.

I started my winning streak last night at the LUSH store at their hair care party. I won a nice gift set. Yay!

Now for winning the game show! HOORAY!

Art

Here are some pictures of the mosaic in its home. And a few switch plate covers made to match. I LOVE their choice of tiles and selections of appliances.

The mosaic is framed nicely by the tile and the hood.




This is a crappy picture of the switch plates.


This is my first attempt, well second I guess, at a flat piece all made from clay. I guess I like that earthy striation effect. This has lots of texture. Actually more than I originally envisioned, it changed a bit in the oven adding some puckers and cracks. Much like the earthy striations! I think it is fine. I'm using the Antique Roadshow motto that if it happens during firing it doesn't effect the value, right? If value = vision? I will get it matted and framed. I hope to have a small series ready for the art shows in October.



This is the first attempt. I have an inspiration piece, which has loads of blues and bright pinks, you can see it in the last image. I've since added some blue and purples and then stopped working on it. I finally put it up on a shelf and will look at it sometime over the weekend. I think I'll scrap all the blues and continue with my favorite colors. I'm not a big fan of orange, but when I set out all my various product you'd never ever believe me.




There is the inspiration piece! I thought I knew who painted it, but I'm not so sure now. Those are the blended sheets of clay making up the ropes above.