My Lola Pamping. She had an aneurysm in Dec. 2005. She was in a persistent vegetative state. My aunt has been caring for her (in the Philippines). I am glad to know she is finally and completely at rest.

My Willow Cat.

Fellow rag-rug maker, Erik, wanted to see some of my metalwork–

Well…I wish I had something exciting to share, but…

Behold the Mighty Practice-Bezel!!

I’ve been practicing my bezel-setting skills of late. I thought I had good hand-strength from my piano practice. That is all obviously in the past because these bezels are kicking my arse! It reminds me of stretching a canvas–press the metal at the top, bottom, left, right, diagonals, etc. Except once you have everything pressed-in, you then have to go back and burnish the sides. On something small, it can be challenging, but I am determined to learn how to do this well.

Because all work and no fun makes me a sad panda, I thought I’d spend some time this weekend playing with acid-etching. I saw some work in the studio today that was so inspiring–photos, soon!

My parents will be up this weekend, as well, so I’m hoping fun fun fun all around–

My original intention when I started photography back in 2003, and then metalworking just this year was to gain enough confidence to learn how to paint and draw. Having success in other art and craft fields help–I feel like I am better able to articulate what I am trying to convey (can’t be shy about it). That said, picking up a pencil or paintbrush or pastel still leaves me a bit catatonic. I sometimes wish I were 8 years old again with no reservations. I wish I could find artwork from that age, but that’s wasn’t the sort of thing that was nurtured or saved in my childhood home. I don’t feel sorry for myself, just…a bit delayed.

Oh well…try try try try try…and I have to remember to say “thank you” for what I AM able to do! So, Out There,

Thank You!!

(oh, and for those of you who notice this sort of thing, yes, I posted this at 4:30 am. I’ve been awake since 2:30–oye!)

A friend emailed me an article from the New York Times on the perfect chocolate chip cookies. Yum. How many times have I made chocolate chip cookies, usually good (I mean, chocolate chip, right?), but occasionally really, really amazing? And I had no idea why…until now. Chocolate chip cookies, when baked from dough that has been aged a bit (by a bit, I mean 12-36 hours), improve in flavor and texture.  The flour has time to absorb all the liquid ingredients and become a more cohesive dough. So those times I made amazing cookies…well, I just bet it was because I was too lazy to bake the cookies right after whipping up the batter. Orangette has a nice write-up on the article, and a recipe to boot!

So do yourself a favor–make some dough the old-fashioned way, and don’t commit yourself to baking it right off. Be totally nonchalant. Be junior-high cool and wait a few days…all good things, as they say! ::wink::

Found on Wisebread

Dear, dear friends are hard to find.  You know the ones–you visit and don’t feel forced to sight-see because it’s all about “being” there.  You have some iced-tea, chat, drive around places like Two Harbors, MN, and find things to do because it’s all about good company.  JAK is a great friend–she’s so smart, and you can depend on her friendship.  She would be happy for me in anything that makes me happy, in general life, trips, ideas, realizations.  I wish she lived nearby.  I would kidnap her and bring her BACK to Missouri–I am that confident of my ability to entertain!–but I know that after lovely Minnesota Summers, an imposed August in Missouri might make her realize the “short end of the stick”argument.

Thanks for having me out this spring, and for visiting us last year–thanks for always reaching out!

Much love,

Me