confessions of a blueberry bandit

Adventures in California-land...

(My BFF Kasia & me in the Sequoia National Forest)

As I mentioned in my last post, Andy & I recently spent a few days in Los Angeles.  It was my very first visit to the great state of California, and it was far too brief!  I had such funny imaginings of what L.A. would be... And I was mostly wrong.  I found it to be so different than any other place I've ever visited.  I was blown away by the hills, all the exotic plant life and architecture...  the amazing nearby nature despite all the traffic and sprawl.  I saw lots of everyday people and dogs... and not one single celebrity.  I surprised myself by really, really enjoying it.  (Shhh... Don't tell Andy.  He wants me to move there, and I'm not sure I can handle living in a giant city where you have to drive everywhere on those crazy-scary freeways.)

We started our LA adventure by visiting Venice Beach, and I think we caught it on the gloomiest day ever.  I actually think the beach is quite beautiful on a cloudy day, though...

On a day like this, there were no people roller boogie-ing in bikinis.  But I did see a family of six touring the pier on Segways, Gob Bluth style.  Sadly, I didn't get my camera in time to capture them.

I realized that my toes had never before touched the Pacific Ocean, so Andy & I braved the frigid water ...

We experienced unusually cool, rainy weather for most of our trip, and people kept apologizing, unaware of the fact that I do not prefer endless sunshine.  I think L.A. was trying to trick me into loving it.

This fat seagull let me get so close, I was sure he would let me squeeze him... Or maybe he was waiting to peck out my eyes.  I decided to play it safe.

I have never been all that interested in Hollywood or celebrity glamour, but we did cruise through Hollywood-proper in our stylin' grandma rental car (a Crown Victoria).  And we explored Mulholland Drive and Runyon Canyon Park to see the amazing views.  I had no idea L.A. would be such a hilly place!

Andy and the elusive "Hollywood" sign...

Steep trails led to lovely views.

Andy & I were both fascinated by the La Brea Tar Pits and the saddest elephant ever...

We stood there watching the bubbling tar for quite a while, trying to imagine what it all looked like before a city sprang up around it.

Andy couldn't resist smelling some tar.  I politely passed.

Loved this bear by the tar pits...

I think I drove Andy crazy by constantly shouting, "Look at that amazing tree/flower/plant!"  Who knew L.A. would be host to such varied & spectacular flora?  I don't know why I didn't take more pictures to help me identify them... Like the trees that looked like giant broccoli stalks?  And the one with the enormous red flowers? And the shrubs that looked like something out of a Dr. Seuss book? 

These flowers and crazy trees were growing near the tar pits.

One thing I do know is that the people of L.A. sure do love some doughnuts.  I have never seen so many donut shoppes in my life!  We were planning to visit the world's first ACM (Automatic Cupcake Machine), but we decided we just didn't have time to wait hours in line and settled for a different trendy bakery.

I think this was the best doughnut I've ever eaten...

My BFF & her hubby & one very jaunty hat...  Only temporary installations in L.A.

I managed to squeeze in a little side adventure to the Sequoia National Forest with my BFF before leaving, and it was definitely the highlight of my trip.  The 2-3 foot snowfall prevented us from seeing most of the park, but we still managed to see some absolutely amazing trees.  I was a little disappointed to miss out on the General Sherman tree (largest living tree by volume?), but I think all that beautiful snow made for an extra magical experience.

I was not prepared for 3 feet of snow... It was 80-something degrees when I left Athens, GA.  I had to layer half the clothes in my suitcase and borrow hat, scarf & gloves from my friend.  Thank goodness for ever-dilligent snow plows... Otherwise we would have been trudging through this the whole way!

 

Heading into a tree tunnel...

Inside the tree tunnel...  A person could live here.

I promised myself I would keep this short & sweet since I have a mountain of work to do, but clearly I've gotten carried away.  Hooray for adventures!

I'm working on some new things for the shop (pouches, tiny snails, etc.) and hope to be able to share them soon.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

♥

Happy New Year!!!

I think 2012 is technically Year of the Dragon, but I prefer to think of it as Year of the Pegasus.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  Mine was busy-busy but very nice.  I celebrated early mini-Christmases with my mom & Andy, and I spent Christmas proper in Atlanta with my dad's side of the family.  I got so many great gifts and felt very spoiled by my loved ones.  Andy & I surprised each other with BB guns, which was pretty hilarious.  Mine is pink.  I am sooo not a gun enthusiast, and never thought I would own a BB gun... But I used one at a friend's barbecue a while back and learned that I am pretty darn good at shooting balloons.  (What's next.. Pink camo?)  Andy also gave me a Chia Pet, something I have wanted more than anything in the world since I was a little girl.  I just think they're neat, ok?  Don't laugh.  So far mine is not growing, but hopefully I can share pictures soon.  Another particularly touching gift was a flash drive loaded with all of my dad's (amazing) recipes... Such a great idea!

I love these beautiful letterpress mushroom bookplates from my Aunt Dana so much...

My mom commissioned tiny sculptures of my pets... Shorty is particularly lifelike.  (Can't remember the name of the artist off the top of my head.)

Andy's brother & our sister-in-law sent us this mini pie maker and a book of handheld pie recipes... I think this is going to get us into a lot of trouble!  Delicious trouble.

Roasted watermelon radishes from Christmas dinner... so pretty & tasty!

After Christmas I spent a long afternoon with some dear friends visiting from New York, and I got to meet the latest addition to their family.  I made a bigger, baby-safe version of my snail out of soft, nubby fleece.

I think she liked it, despite the frown.

They are such a sweet family, and I really wish I could see them more often...

Andy & I spent New Year's weekend at a cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with a big group of friends.  I had never been to Pigeon Forge, and it kind of blew my mind. The entire (small) town is one great, big, kitschy tourist trap, especially this time of year, when everything is absolutely blazing with Christmas lights.  Pigeon Forge is home to Dollywood (sadly, it was closed) and a gazillion other crazy attractions (not to mention dozens upon dozens of pancake houses, mini golf courses, and go-cart tracks).  We drove to nearby Gatlinburg and took a (scary, precarious) chairlift up the side of a mountain to ride back down on a (scary, precarious) alpine slide.  It was really fun, despite a frigid three-hour wait in line.  I decided to continue the terror-adrenaline surge by riding a go-cart for the first time in 26 years.  (Have I ever mentioned my traumatic, humiliating childhood go-cart crash?)  I'm not quite sure how I did it, but I survived without incident, and I even braved the "pro" course.  I think conquering a life-long fear is a pretty good way to start a new year, don't you?

Why didn't I buy this sweatshirt? 

Fantasy Mini Golf in Pigeon Forge...

Our "cabin" ended up being in a gated community of many near-identical chalet-style "cabins" all stacked together on a hillside...  It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was very nice & cosy inside.  And there was a lovely view from our porch.  All in all, we had a great time.

Sigh.. back to real life.   I have a ton of work to catch up on this week, but I am planning to finish some new pouches for the shop very soon.  I've had some requests for more snail ornaments as well, so keep a look out for those.  I got inspired to design some little mushroom gift tags for personal Christmas gifts, and I'm considering adding some to the shop.  What do you think?

Wishing everyone much love & happiness in 2012!  See you soon...

♥

 

Summer Haze

Just wanted to pop in with a few snippets of semi-recent life... I have been a bit lost in a fuzzy insomnia-induced twilight, but today I am feeling slightly human again.  Insomnia is so maddening, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!  I will mostly let the photos do the talking for me, as I am still... so... sleepy...

Pink Bunny, one of the first stuffed toys I ever made... Perhaps a bit of a self-portrait in felt.

My little Piddler on the Roof... (He piddles when he gets excited, which is pretty much all the time.)

My sweet baby kitty Junebug, who is never bad...  

Cherries (they always, always make me think of my grandmother)...

I tend to drink tea for two all by myself, but I would share with you!

Mr. Cicada, my new friend...  (Andy is hovering over my shoulder, begging me to call him "John Cicada.")

Sweet little yellow polka-dotted glass(es) I found at Ikea recently...

Amazing customized gift-wrap,from my BFF... (Sometimes very belated birthday gifts are the best!)

Pink polka-dotted straws and a heart-shaped tea infuser... and the most delicious chocolate ever! 

Recently-discovered Car of My Dreams, the Nissan Figaro.  Go ahead, look it up.

My echinacea, just before it started dying...

Lantana...

Portulaca (moss rose)...

Purple coreopsis... ( I also have yellow.  Or did, rather... before the extra-intense summer heat became too much for almost everything in my garden.)

Vintage doll I found at the flea market a while back...

Beautiful spool of ribbon, a birthday gift from my aunt back in May... (Something tells me I am going to hoard this!)

And... a new bear pouch in the shop!

I'm considering crawling into bed early tonight... say around 7 p.m.  Is 6:30 pushing it?  I'm not ashamed to be geriatric.

Hope everyone is having a lovely & sleep-filled week!

♥

Escape to New York!

Andy & I hopped our train to New York and had a fabulous time! 

I left my "real" camera in my suitcase for the entire trip and only photographed with my iPhone.  I have to admit it was really liberating...  This is coming from someone who used to lug around a large-format (film) camera and tripod and all the accoutrements.  Now I have been completely seduced by digital technology.  It's funny, but getting an iPhone (after resisting it forever) really reignited my love of photographing.  How amazing is it to take a photo and instantly share it with the world?  (Hello, future!  It's so nice to meet you!)

Anyway, it was a lovely & inspiring trip overall.  Please join me (and forgive the ridiculously long post)...

I really loved the unexpected deco lettering on the train station door...

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We had a sleeper car on the way up... It was tiny & expensive, but sooooo worth it!  If you ever travel by train, I highly recommend the upgrade.  (The 19-hour return home in regular seats was miserable...)

  

Am I the only one who gets excited about things like folding sinks?

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There was no lack of graffiti on the train ride... You tend see the skeeziest parts of each city you pass through.  My favorite graffiti was simply the word "crotch" scrawled across a wall. Sadly I did not get a picture.

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 Lovely sunrise view from the train.

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Breakfasting in the diner car.

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Somewhere in Virginia?

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Washington, D.C.

 

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And finally in the big city...

Have I mentioned that I love Hipstamatic?  Yeah, it's trendy, but it makes everything look so great.

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Sake at a Brooklyn sushi joint.

(I ate so much good food, not to mention cupcakes and rice pudding... Why didn't I take more pictures?)

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Henry Darger exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum!!!  Most of the exhibit featured Darger's personal collection of art & ephemera, but there were a couple of his (amazing) large panels.  It was a small-ish exhibit, but great nonetheless.

 

Kasia's a little unsure about what's going on here...

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Somewhat creepy wooden dolls, also in the folk art museum...

And an even creepier hair wreath.  I was fascinated by this.

We also spent some time in the MOMA, one of my favorite museums, but I think I had killed my phone battery by then, so no pictures...)

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And on to the wedding, the whole reason for the trip!

Smokestack in the park where my friends had their wedding.  I can't remember the name of the little park... somewhere in Williamsburg, right by the water.

Chris & Annie getting hitched... It was the windiest day ever, but a really lovely wedding.

 

   The happy couple!

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Amazing view from the park.

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Wedding party jump!

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Andy & me & my amazing wind-blown hair...

Weddings are just like roller coasters!

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That's my man...

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After the ceremony, the bride & groom and most of the wedding party hopped on bicycles and rode to Aurora, where we enjoyed a lovely dinner, and then on to The Richardson, a speak-easy bar where I had an amazing drink called a "Scottish Dew."  All I can say is whiskey and cucumber.  Yum.

Post-wedding sparklers at the bar!

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My last full day in the city I was able to spend some time with my uncle & aunt & cousins who live in NY.  I don't see them often, so I was really pleased that it all worked out.  We had lunch together in a great  Turkish restaurant in Brooklyn, and then just the gals broke off and traipsed around Manhattan.

 

 

They took me to Dylan's Candy Bar, a child's dream-come-true (but potentially a parent's nightmare!), and had frozen hot chocolate.  And cupcakes.  And immediately lapsed into sugar comas.  It was great.

The gumball tabletops and peppermint-striped seats were such a nice touch!

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We spent a long time walking along Central Park and did the customary carousel ride... I love the Central Park carousel so much!

 

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We also explored the High Line, which was new since I was last in NY, and was a really great way to see the city.

It was sad to say goodbye... 

But it was also nice to return home to my little house and my animals.  I'm feeling recharged and ready to get back into makin' stuff.  Hopefully I will have something to share soon!

♥

 

Emerging

 

Hello after another terribly looooooong absence!  I have been in a cocoon of sorts these many moons...  A very thick cocoon of summer heat and overall busy-ness.  I've been squeezing in a little fun here and there and attempting to keep the my brain's creative center from atrophying.  That is no easy task within the tiny confines of a cocoon, let me tell you! 

The good news is that I am ready to emerge and get back (at least in part) to the sort of work that makes me happy.  Later today my hubby & I are boarding a train to New York City (!!!) to attend a very dear friend's wedding and also spend a few days hangin' with my best-est friend.  Did I mention that we splurged on a sleeper car?  And that we're planning to see the Private Collection of Henry Darger at the American Folk Art Museum?  I am beyond excited!  

I am hoping to switch gears after my trip and start sewing, photographing, doodling, and even painting again on a regular basis.  I have been neglecting the creative side of my life (which is pretty much like depriving myself of oxygen) for way too long!  Little opportunities have been popping up recently, and I feel like the world is gently nudging me in the creative direction.  Maybe it's just that hint Autumn electricity in the air...

I'd like to share some pictures of a new friend I met a couple of days ago... She had recently emerged from her own cocoon and was drying her wings in some monkey grass.  I rescued her from being eaten by my beastlet Shorty just in time!  There is something about such personal encounters with nature that make me feel very special.  In a Doctor Dolittle sort of way.  But also in a deeper way that makes me very happy to be alive.

  

She is a black swallowtail.

Gotta love my camera's macro setting...

 

 

If she had a word bubble, what would she say?

To safety...

 

Adieu, sweet butterfly.  Our time together was brief but beautiful.

And I can't resist sharing a few furry pics I took recently with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone...

 

Shorty McShorterson (a.k.a. Winston Shortchill)

 

My sweet Junebug (a.k.a. Lil' Stink)

 

Mr. Goodbar

I have an angry To-Do list staring me down, so I will bid you farewell for now and promise, promise, to return very soon!

♥

Winter Detour

First of all, my apologies for not following through with the pouches (and every other crafty item) I have been promising for so long! My sewing machine is having issues, so most-things-stitched are on hold for the time being.  I hate to admit it, but a tiny part of me is relieved to be off the hook.  I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with sewing.  I think anyone who sews can probably relate here... the end result is so satisfying, but the process itself can be so physically exhausting and frustrating that I almost want to rip my hair out.  This is not to say that I am giving up sewing... just taking an Official Break while I assess technical difficulties.  (Now if I could just arrange an Official Break from that life sucker known as The Internet... then life would be grand!)

The past several weeks have revolved around taking care of all sorts of un-fun business... like putting a new roof on the house, having weird moles biopsied, and visiting the dentist for the first time since...wince... Last Century.  Yikes.  I've also embarked on a little journey that I'm hoping will prove to be fun and worthwhile in the long run... Doggy Obedience Training.  If all goes well, this one will be a life saver! 

As always, I wish that I had more time and more crafty progress to share.  Somehow I've gotten lost on a very lengthy and unplanned detour, but I'm slowly finding my way back.  In the mean time, I will leave you with a few more pictures of our recent dusting of snow...

 

And a super-nerdy picture of Shorty (recently & aptly nicknamed Shortal Combat) and yours truly...

♥

Sunny Saturday Bliss...

Ah, what a perfect sort of Saturday!

After a couple weeks of cold, busy drudgery, Spring is in the air and I can finally relax.  Work has been keeping me quite stressed and preoccupied, but I have managed to squeeze in a few fun things...  Like what, you ask?  Let's see... a long afternoon visit with my friend Rizzie and her tiny new baby girl... celebrating my sister's 35th birthday (yikes, that makes me feel old!)... preparing for & playing a very fun show with Lolligags and How I Became the Bomb and having way too much to drink (my poison of choice is whiskey & ginger-ale)... a girls' night at my friend Emily's with a gaggle of ladies, nudie-man playing cards and a Ouija board... planning a trip to Denver next month(!)... and of course, jetting around in my jelly-bean car! 

Last night I slept better than I have in weeks, and I was so happy to wake with warm sunshine on my face.  I've just had a lovely, lovely time lolling around soaking up the much-needed rays with Junebug.  (Is it wrong to be blissfully in love with a cat?)

Junebug helped me eat my very favorite lunch... brown rice with (an entire) avocado, seasoned with a shiitake vinaigrette, nutritional yeast, and a sprinklin' of sesame & seaweed.  Heaven...

And she very patiently let me get up-close and personal with the camera, which she usually hates...

 

 

 

 

Sigh... I wish days like this could last forever...

What to do with the rest of the day?  Maybe some sewing on the front porch (I have some new softie ideas I've been ruminating over during my recent bouts of insomnia), and then a leisurely walk with Andy.  Maybe a crafty project or two with my friend Leslie later on. 

I hope everyone has a lovely, lovely weekend! 

I'm a Little Bit Country, I'm a Little Bit Rock & Roll...

Hello!!!

I am back from my travels far and wide, and I have lots of pictures to share! After time in the country and the city, it feels lovely to be back in my little town and my little house. With my little cat...

I have been terribly busy with all the post-travel catching up, but yesterday I took a break to go to a local pumpkin patch and have a pumpkin-carving shindig! (I think the last time I carved a pumpkin was probably sometime in the late '80s.)   

Don't they look nice all together? I tried to convince everyone to leave their jack o'lanterns with me for safe keeping...

That's mine with the razor-sharp teeth. I picked the toughest pumpkin in the world and required quite a lot of help from an expert...

Andy looks so comfortable with that leering pumpkin on his shoulder!

I am excited about Halloween despite the fact that Andy & I still have not figured out our costumes.  I will have to post more about that later.

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And now back to my travels...

Part 1:  Bedford, Pennsylvania:

We made the long drive to   Bedford with the rest of M Coast and spent two very relaxing days at Emily's (very old) family farmhouse before making our way to New York for CMJ.  It was a lovely time.

Don't let Andy fool you... He's no country boy.

Part II: I Heart New York City!

I have been to New York a handful of times now, and each time I find it to be a little less intimidating. Kasia & Tal live in a surprisingly beautiful part of Brooklyn (I suppose you would call it Ditmas Park), where the streets are lined with great big Victorian houses.  (Sadly, I forgot to pull out the camera, so you will have to take my word for it!) 

We walked and walked all over Manhattan and consumed quite a bit of tasty food. We even journeyed to Queens to have dinner with my friends Chris & Annie.  They made us fresh tempura and entertained us with organ and theremin music... I wish I had remembered my camera because they are super-cute!

Cupcake Tour 2007 didn't actually work out and, in fact, I did not eat a single cupcake.  However, I did eat plenty of dumplings from Dumpling Man.  And cream puffs from Beard Papa's, where the friendly employees fill your puff with cream right before your eyes!  They were so fast that I couldn't get a picture!

Mmmmm... cream puffs. 

And rice pudding from Rice to Riches in Nolita... Who knew rice pudding could be so tasty (and trendy)?  

Andy & I shared Category "5" Caramel with buttery graham cracker blanket topping.

Thank goodness our hosts love to eat...

I tried to avoid super-touristy things, though Andy did drag me to Times Square to visit Nintendo World and Toys 'R Us.  (Shudder... I have never seen so many ill-behaved children in one place...)  I did not have a rendezvous with Conan O'Brien, but I did spy Tim Burton walking down the street.  We locked eyes just for a moment, and I  tried to hide the deep disappointment in my eyes.  I longed to ask him why his films have gone awry, but I kept walking.  I think I made an impact.

A brief afternoon in the Museum of Natural History, where I would like to live someday.

This made me think of Junebug because, you know, she's always killing peacocks...

For some reason I was obsessed with the  fake puddle of water in walrus land.  I think I would like to make fake puddles for a living.

I fell in love with this little shrine (?)...  Now I have to find a way to make a table with these little wooden birds.

Andy & I worried that we stuck out like sore thumbs, but we trudged on... 

And of course we had to spend some time in Central Park!   It was the most beautiful day of carouseling and rowing...

Andy is jazzed.  Look at him.

We only bumped into other boats a few times...

Andy & Tal look so idyllic...

Kasia is not really so sinister...

Yeah, that's me with the GIANT head!

It was a lovely time, indeed, and after all was said and done we hopped a train.  Well, we didn't really "hop" the train, but... 

It was a lot of fun, even if I didn't meet Cary Grant in the diner car.  Next time I embark on a 16-plus hour train ride, I will definitely spring for the sleeper car! 

Well, I am thoroughly exhausted... I'm off to finish a sewing project now.  I hope to be back very soon with some Progress. 

Have a lovely Sunday!

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p.s.  You should check out this movie trailer... 

My very own Kasia stars as the creepy nanny with mouths for eyes!

I Want to Live in the Deep Blue Sea...

Well, Turning Thirty wasn't so bad after all... I had a lovely, lovely weekend off! The aquarium was, of course, the highlight--well, and the      cake(s)!   Oh, how I wish I could live at the aquarium! There is something so magical about giant, luminescent tanks of water. I could just sit and gaze at them for hours... And how nice to remember that I love taking photographs...

Beluga whales are so beautiful and so sweet!  Once upon a time I dreamed of being a marine biologist (until I realized that I am afraid of the vast oceans...)

If I were a fish, would I belong?

The sea lions were too fast for my sad little camera... but there was something so beautiful and poetic about this floating frisbee (which would be snatched up seconds later)...

Andy contemplates life as a jelly fish...

And I'm so thrilled that I could just pee on myself!

I can't tell you how much this terrifies me...

Or how much Emily & Josiah make me smile!

Oh, my god... Sea otters are so f-ing cute... especially when they fall asleep clutching fish between their furry little paws! 

Not to mention African penguins (mere inches from my smiling face)!

And this little guy?

We were fortunate enough to pet some rays...

Have you ever seen a moon jelly?

More jellies...

I want to live here...

Andy's moment...  (What is it about such moments that life suddenly makes so much sense?)

There is nothing like cake(s) to make a gal feel loved...  (Courtesy of Emily and Emily)

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes!!! My heart is full to bursting!  I will be back soon with legitimate Progress...

I Love Technology...

In the midst of purging last night, I recovered what I believe to be the most valuable item I have ever owned...

This little treasure was lost to me for far too long... I don't remember where it came from, but I used to carry it around in my wallet for emergencies.  I am one of those unfortunate people who simply cannot say NO.  I tend to don other people's problems like underwear, and this has taken years off my life...  But no more!!!   I would like to share this gift with all of the other sweet and caring doormats out there.  Come on, print one.  Print several!  And next time you find yourself in a potentially life-draining situation, all you have to do is present your ruthless attacker with this!

I took a little purging break last night and embarked on a new Gocco project... Chances are,  the results will be disastrous.  The process itself is not really that difficult, but the knowledge that the materials are so scarce and expensive gives me terrible performance anxiety.  I agonize over even the simplest of line drawings and often end up with designs that don't look at all like my own work.  We'll see what happens, though.  I will try to share some pictures in the next couple of days.

Now I would like to share some exciting news about my exciting new job!  In a very serendipitous turn of events, I was offered a position working for a stock photography company... based in Paris... working from my own home... with my favorite cousin...  who lives in Paris!   All of this is possible only through my new best friend, Technology.   Tomorrow morning I will begin special personalized transatlantic training via the internet.    I am completely astonished and giddy...  Wish me luck! 

Now back to the business of laundry and printing and selecting paint colors and (gulp) packing... Have a lovely week!