Cat's Wire

Alive and kicking

2012-01-26T14:35:00.000+01:00

Kind of.

Not much new in my world. I still can't tap dance or own a 3 star restaurant.

The cats still drive me crazy and today Meffi stole my milk. Nothing like hearing a little lapping sound next to you and discovering a tiger head in your mug. I wish I had had a camera on me then, the look she gave me when I asked her what she was doing was incomparable and showed me my limits in this house once again.

I am working on a looming project at the moment, you might get to see pictures soon. Actually I got something on both of my looms, but I ran out of gunmetal colored beads. Never thought that would happen as whenever I put in a bead order, there's gunmetal and black in there. I guess the cats took them to gaslight me.

Picnik is closing down and I'm really still very upset about it. No matter if it's shampoo, my favorite cookies or my favorite photo editor, sooner or later they take it away from me. Mostly when I just got really, really addicted. Ok, it's weird to be addicted to shampoo. I mentioned it first because they did it to me three times already!

Today I got mail, my free sample of Preciosa Ornela twin beads. I have no idea what to do with them yet, but a gift, especially if you forgot about ordering it already, is always nice!

Sorry for the bad picture, they are still in their bag.

Enough random thoughts for today. I think the dishwasher is ready to be emptied. What an exciting life I lead sometimes! ;-)

Interview with the artist - Sue from Dala Horse

2012-01-23T09:00:00.002+01:00

Today please welcome Sue from Dala Horse.

I remember well when I set eyes on one her pieces, unfortunately not in real life, but on our jewelry forum for the first time. Sue's jewelry is unique and beautiful and the way she captures animals shows her connection to the animal world.

It's hard to pick my favorite among her collection, but one of them certainly is this gorgeous raven pendant.

Let's give the word to Sue now however, shall we?

Tell us a little about who you are and where you come from.

I am John's wife, mother of 3 grown kids, Dan, Jeff and Devon, 2 cats, Lily and Mia, a guinea pig named Grey Ears or Grey for short, and a black and white bunny named Benjamin. In short I'm an animal nut. I was born in Miami, Florida, but have lived in Ohio since I've been a wee one. We live in a rural suburb called Morrow ... our house is on 8 acres and we have an abundance of wildlife that occupies our surroundings ... like foxes, skunks, deer, hawks, groundhogs, bunnies, wild turkeys, stray cats from time to time. Thank goodness I'm an animal lover!

What's your craft/art and how did you get to do it in the first place?

My art would be jewelry design and creation ... I began doing wirework and beadwork exclusively and branched out into silversmithing. With the help of a local mentor, Ted, also known as Smithy from then SJA forum, now JAC, I learned how to solder using oxygen and propane. My first torch experience was with hand held butane torches and solder paste ... I learned how to solder myself, in the basement, but not very well. Smithy taught me the fine points. I now work out of a studio in Dayton, Ohio ... Mythic Silver. Dave Brand and Sandra Picciano-Brand are the resident jewelry artists there ... they are awesome folks and wonderful teachers! My first stop at the local bead shop was to buy crystals, beadwire, crimpers and pliers to make a bracelet ... truth be known ... my husband does all my crimps and drilling (he's a mechanical engineer and former machinist ... he's my quality control guy and teacher, too). Even years ago one could spend a lot of money at a bead shop and lose track time ... bead shop time warp.

Trilobite pendants, made with the lost wax casting technique

I think this is one of the most asked questions - where does your inspiration come from?

Everything and anything ... I'm a visual person with a very overactive imagination ... I need to start writing ideas down because I get great ideas ... then other great ideas take their place and lots of cool stuff goes unrealized.

Tell us a fun thing about yourself.

Hmmmm ... self proclaimed lunatic and experimenter ... also love to shop ... hopelessly addicted to clearance shopping! Also Sci-Fi and horror movie junkie.

Do you do other crafts, if yes, what?

Not at present. I would like to try my hand at leather tooling.

Which one of your pieces is your absolute favorite? Which one was the hardest to make and why?

My favorite would be my Wolf Totem pendant ... I love how he turned out, especially the beadwork I did for that piece ... everything came together beautifully. The hardest piece was the one I thought would be the easiest ... that's always how things go for me ... each and every piece has its quirks ... thank goodness for these pieces though because they are the best teachers.

Is there someone whom you admire and who inspires you?

Buddha and the teachings of Buddhism. "Wisdom is the best guide and faith is the best companion. One must try to escape from the darkness of ignorance and suffering, and seek the light of Enlightenment." (His Holiness the Dalai Lama)

Another inspiration is St. Francis, patron saint of the animals. I love the Prayer of St. Francis ... I start my day out with it.

If you had free choice of one supply you need for your craft/art, what would it be?

Sterling silver sheet in a bunch of different gauges.

Do you sell online, if yes, where can we find you?

Etsy is where you can find me ... at Dala Horse.

Is there anything you feel you need or want to tell the world outside now?

Hmmmm .... might have to get back to you on that one ... oh ... I do have a giveaway coming soon, so visit my blog and enter to win.

You better do that because look what Sue is giving away - Moonshine the Rabbit pendant. Isn't it gorgeous?

Moonshine the Rabbit - the cab is obsidian

Quote of the week

2012-01-22T14:55:00.000+01:00

It helps to know that today's movie is a parody of Elvis and spy movies, with the The Blue Lagoon generously thrown in as well.

It features an adorable young Val Kilmer and is pure nonsense, but still kind of fun. All I say is Zucker, Zucker and Abrahams. If you know them, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Kilmer plays a young rock'n'roll singer coming to East Germany who finally ends up with the French resistance ... and Hillary.

Nick: Look. I'm not the first guy who fell in love with a woman he met at a restaurant who then turned out to be the daughter of a kidnapped scientist, only to lose her to her childhood lover whom she'd last seen on a deserted island and who turned out, fifteen years later, to be the leader of the French underground.
Hillary: I know. It all sounds like some bad movie.
[Long pause. Both look at camera.]

Top Secret!, USA, 1984

More wire knit - a sneak peek pic

2012-01-20T14:31:00.000+01:00

I think I'll need an intervention.

I'm sorry if you are getting bored, but at least I moved from bracelets to a collar now.

AND I did my laundry and the litter boxes and some more stuff, so I don't have a bad conscience about neglecting things.

I'm so easy to please these days ... give me some glass beads, a whole lot if possible and I'll spend some happy hours.

Interview with the artist - Star from Colt Pixy

2012-01-16T09:00:00.001+01:00

I'm really happy to welcome a very talented lady on my blog today. You have heard about her before, I have more than one of her great polymer clay pieces, like my beloved dragon Tomomi and her pal, the octopus, a flower snail, and then there are the pieces that went to friends and family, like the bunny butts or an adorable little owl.

Talent is not all she has got, though, she's also a lovely person. I'm very glad to have met her online.

Tell us a little about who you are and where you come from?

I am ColtPixy. Most people call me by my middle name, Star. I currently reside in beautiful Middle Tennessee, US.

What's your craft/art and how did you get to do it in the first place?

I mostly sculpt nowadays, but like doing just about anything with polymer clay. Years ago I was a stained glass and mosaic artist. My work was sold in 4 stores in Tennesee and Alabama and I taught mosaic classes in both states. Then an injury caused me to lose the use of my thumb for 6 months. It was my doctor who encouraged me to create with clay, I chose polymer clay and fell in love with it.

I think this is one of the most asked questions – where does your inspiration come from?

One of my favorite sources of inspiration is just talking with friends. Sometimes an offhand remark will give me an idea. Especially when we are not even talking about creating anything at all. I like to think of them as my real live Muses.

Do you do other crafts, if yes, what?

I draw, paint, I love to work with a quill and ink. Stained glass, mosaics. I like hand sculpting with concrete. I can tufa, but like concrete better. I sew a little. Needlefelt. A little beading. Embroidery. Wood burning, carving. Weaving. Lost wax silver casting. There is not a lot that I have not tried actually. I believe that one thing can lead to another and so on. I love learning and mastering new things. It makes me feel alive.

Which one of your pieces is your absolute favorite? Which one was the hardest to make and why?

My favorite has got to be this Octopus...

The hardest to make would be the passion flower. Figuring out how to make it as close to the real thing as possible and yet make it a strong sculpture.

Is there someone whom you admire and who inspires you?

Too many people to list and I am not going to try for fear of leaving any of them out.

If you had free choice of just one supply you need for your craft/art, what would it be?

Polymer clay.

Do you sell online, if yes, where can we find you?

Yes, my shop is at ColtPixy.

Hop over there, guys, and you'll find some amazing stuff. Her latest passion are the snails one of which I'll show you here. Isn't that adorable? It's hard to show you more because Star's snails are not slow. They fly out of her hands and that's no surprise to anyone who knows her and her gorgeous work!

Maeve the pixie snail racer

Quote of the week

2012-01-15T09:00:00.002+01:00

You know that I use this "quote of the week" thing as an excuse to go over my old DVDs and to watch movies again, right? That way when someone asks me why I buy DVDs (I haven't arrived in the Blu-ray age), I can always say that they don't just fill up a shelf and collect dust.

I seem to remember seeing today's movie on a USA vacation for the first time. I laughed, I was surprised, touched ... and I needed tissues.

One of my favorite quotes is when Frank Bennett meets Idgie Threadgoode for the first time.

Frank: I must say, you're looking mighty fine today.

Idgie: You a politician, or does lying just run in your family?

Fried Green Tomatoes, USA, 1991

What a perfect quote for our times .......

By the way, I once tried the recipe for the fried green tomatoes, it was yummy!

Stuck

2012-01-14T19:33:00.000+01:00

I'm stuck.

There are the things that I have to do (cleaning litterboxes or doing laundry, writing e-mails which actually also belongs in the second category), there are things I want to do (looming, crocheting, reading, playing computer games, having someone else cook for me) and there are the things I feel obliged to do ... and that's where I'm stuck. I'm still working on my move from ArtFire to Zibbet. Most of it is done, but not all and I can hear the little woman in my ear nagging to get it done.

I'm afraid she's not going to let me off the hook.

Last night I sat here trying to make a looming pattern, but I kept being distracted by one of the few pieces I want to rework. Then I remembered another piece that was still waiting downstairs for its "surgery" and the one I still need to take photos of ... deeeeep breath.

Baby steps will do the trick and then I'll be back to tell you stories about the cats and show you new loomed pieces and maybe I can even announce I folded my laundry and learned the cat language. A girl can dream, so can an old witch like me.

Even Esme feels she needs to calm me down! ;-)

Two souls alas ...

2012-01-13T13:41:00.000+01:00

are dwelling in my breast, said good old Faust. Not that I remember much of Faust, I'm not a Goethe fan and when our German teacher asked in our last year which play we wanted to talk about, I was the only one not voting for Faust. As always I'm digressing, sorry.

Do you sometimes feel there are two souls in your breast?

The other day I felt that way when looking at two of my latest designs. They couldn't be more different from each other and still I've been told it's not hard to see that I made both of them.

You know what? Maybe there is just one soul, too playful to want to be strapped down. I think it's lot of fun to let your creative soul wander. From serious to silly, from simple to complicated, from modern to old-fashioned. They can all be facets of you and it would be a pity to hide them.

Lion head pendant

Queenie

Lady Eleanor

Sleepy Star

Grape pie

Interview with the artist - Christina of Plantie Bee's

2012-01-09T09:00:00.021+01:00

One of the things I love about the internet is that I get to meet interesting people. Talented people. Lovely people.

One of them is Christina. I'm really happy about having met her and her paintings through our European guild blog. She's a painter, but I think she can tell you about that a lot better herself.

Circe - Keeper of the Golden Fleece

Tell us a little about who you are and where you come from.

Well! My name is Christina, and I was born in the little suburb town of Gaithersburg, Maryland. I grew up with the typical artist story: I drew all the time! It was always what I loved doing and what I had a passion for. I got more detentions in school for drawing on my desk than for anything else ;). When I was a Senior in high school I took AP Studio Art and worked all year on my portfolio and applied to several art schools. However, despite being accepted into all of them my family couldn't afford to send me. I was pretty devastated, and shortly after my 18th birthday I moved to Berlin, Germany for "life experience" as I called it and completely stopped drawing. From there I moved to England, and several years later have landed myself in Sweden! My fiancé knew my passion for art and pushed me back into painting.

Everything you see now is a result of that! Relearning, experiencing, finding a style, and finding my vision :)

Christina and her latest work in progress at the time of the interview - I already know I love it!

What's your craft/art and how did you get to do it in the first place?

Right now I am an acrylic painter! Though that wasn't always the case. I was once a master of color pencils in my earlier years and had no grasp of wet mediums whatsoever. The summer I was 17 I spent months using up all the acrylics I had been giving as gifts, practicing portraits. That's where I got my base idea of shading and blending with them. Everything has been one big trial and error since then, constantly learning!

I think this is one of the most asked questions - where does your inspiration come from?

I have always had an obsession with beauty and beautiful things. Someone once told me that as an artist the way for us to feel like we own something, is to paint it. That's where my inspiration comes from - the things I find beautiful and appeasing to the senses coupled with whatever meaning/message/feeling embodies it.

Tell us a fun thing about yourself.

Oh boo, I'm actually quite boring. My fiancé wants me to tell you that I have the drinking tolerance of a grown man, but I think that might be too much fun. For me, maybe that I have been a terrible MMO addict in the past and love playing a healer in most games :P That's more nerdy fun.

Do you do other crafts, if yes, what?

I do a bit of knitting! I made a decision that for my New Year's Resolution every year, instead of taking a habit away from myself, I'd teach myself something new. When I was a teenager, that was knitting, it's very relaxing ^^

Which one of your pieces is your absolute favorite? Which one was the hardest to make and why?

My favorite would have to probably be my recent piece "Song for Spring - Canary" because it is what set me off in a more mature style, helping me learn skin shading, hands, portraiture. I really love having it around, it makes me smile. The hardest one ... lol, that's difficult to say. I always complain about a project in length at some point. It's a tie between "Winter Guardian" (which was a digital piece (remark of the interviewer: the first painting of Christina's that I fell in love with)) and "Snow Dance: Red Crowned Crane" as her face was like a never ending punishment to get right :P

Aedhen: Winter Guardian

Is there someone whom you admire and who inspires you?

Yes! The painter Jasmine Becket-Griffith. During the early stages of me getting back into art I found her randomly on Etsy. Her acrylic paintings are truly fantastic, but it's more than just her ability to paint profound and unique characters ... It is her complete business which she has started up and built on her own as an independent artist. She's incredibly inspiring to me in all ways!

If you had free choice of one supply you need for your craft/art, what would it be?

Lol, well, I always need paint, but that seems too easy, so I'll be more specific. A large bottle of titanium white. Even if it's the blackest of paintings somehow I always use up globs of it and it's the color I've had to replace the most.

Do you sell online, if yes, where can we find you?

I sure do! You can find my paintings on Zazzle here - Plantie Bee's

And I am currently making plans with my art supplier in Malmö for giclee prints for my Etsy shop, so stay tuned!

You'll find me here - Plantie Bee's.

Is there anything you feel you need or want to tell the world outside now?

I am really happy with where my art has come from and to where it is going. I hope people out there like my paintings and will follow my progress and be there to support me on this grand journey :)

I could always use the company, hehe.

Thank you so much for the interview, Christina. I know I'll be there to follow you!

Quote of the week

2012-01-08T12:45:00.000+01:00

Today's my last day before going back to work. What better movie to choose one about a vacation?

Although I have to say, mine was probably a little more relaxing. I didn't have to deal with teenagers, son-in-laws and their future bosses or adventures in a sailing boat ... or a pump ...

Mr. Hobbs as narrator:

"A hush falls over the crowd as Hobbs' shrewd eyes take in the intricacies of the complicated machine at a glance. Then his strong, skillful fingers, as sensitive as those of a surgeon, make their first sure contact with the key valve."

See for yourself what happens to the "surgeon" ...

Mr. Hobbs takes a vacation, USA, 1962

Five hours ago ...

2012-01-06T23:02:00.000+01:00

... I was terribly tired. It was too late for a nap and too early for bed.

Now I'm suddenly awake again and still sitting here trying to get things done. Monday it's off to work again and I guess I feel as if I have to pack stuff into the days before that, only the more stuff I'm packing, the less I unpack again to actually get it done.

It's not as if I haven't done anything today and it's not as if I didn't have an excuse for the time when I didn't do anything and by the way, who cares if I do anything in the middle of the night?

Everyone around here is asleep but me.

Know what? I think I'll treat myself to a drink and then decide what I want to do.

Oh, by the way ... my excuse! ;-)

I'll be watching you

2012-01-05T09:00:00.001+01:00

My inner playchild came out and, well, played. Nuff said.

I'll be watching you - Wire crochet eye pendant

A new year - a new technique

2012-01-04T10:59:00.001+01:00

Actually this wouldn't be a new technique for me if I right away had followed the whole tutorial I once got from Yoola Design, but you know me, being playful and impatient I don't deal with tutorials well and this has nothing at all to do with the tutorial itself, just me *inhaling deeply* That had to be said first.

Maybe it just came at the wrong time for me, though.

Now someone suggested the subject "New techniques" for the year's first blogring of my jewelry team on the Jewelry Artisans Community (no names will be told) and I had to think of something. It's not as if there isn't anything on my list, but none of it would fall into the urgent category, so I was pretty much at a loss at first.

Then I remembered this technique, though. I have seen it described as wire crochet (it's different from the wire crochet I have done so far) or as wire knitting. The finished product looks like a knit piece to me, but you can't grip the wire well with knitting needles, a crochet hook works much better. It also reminds on working on a knitting spool, just without the spool, and you can't just make tubes, but also flat pieces.

Actually that is what I have been making, bracelets and a necklace. This year has only just begun, I have time to try different items, I hope.

Let me show you what I have so far.

This was my first attempt. You can tell by the irregularity of the stitches. I had planned to make a simple bracelet without any extras, but I couldn't stop myself, so instead I made a long strip of wire whose edges I then crocheted together so that I could fill the bracelet with small beads.

This bracelet is by no means perfect, but I learned a lot from it already and I'll keep the design in mind.

My second attempt called for a slightly thicker wire and beads. What a nice coincidence it was that I still had the blue seed beads on the dark blue wire. Yes, this was certainly getting addictive as it turned out so nicely.

Now I started wondering if it would also work with bigger beads. A while ago I had gotten myself a few tubes of large Miyuki cubes not even knowing what I wanted to use them for.

I chose the silver-lined clear cubes and teamed them up with black wire. I wasn't all that happy about the cubes along the edges, though. It was ok, but round beads would have looked better ... or maybe no beads at all?

This took me to my next piece and this time I decided to really dig in. Bright red Miyuki cubes and clear AB finish Swarovski crystals ... bling, bling, bling. Believe me, these pictures might give you a vague idea, but they can't show the sparkle. What I like a lot is also how the cubes give the cuff a nice weight and still leave it slinky.

You know how I always seek to use up my stash? Well, here we go. Hm, more cubes. I really have to go and look for some round beads next, huh?

I'm not the only one in my team trying out a new technique. Please also visit:
Jewelry Art by Dawn
Bead Sophisticate

Oh, and by the way, I just had a new idea for cuff #3. I still have those blue cubes somewhere ... stay tuned!

Dein Helfer, Lesson #2

2012-01-03T10:15:00.000+01:00

Do you remember this little booklet?

Shortly after New Year is a time when many people try to get organized, in their lives, in their heads and what should be the easiest task, in their home.

Let me help you bit with that by offering you sound advice on things you never knew you couldn't live without until now.

Today I picked a beautiful example for everyone dealing with precious cut flowers. Sorry, I can't tell you what flowers exactly are meant by that, maybe magic flowers that can heal, or dancing and talking flowers like the ones in Andersen's fairy tale "Little Ida's flowers" which I love very much, but now I could have told Ida how to make her flower friends last a little longer ...

"To protect precious flowers from withering all too soon, they have to be kept carefully. The best way to accomplish this is to wrap each individual blossom in newspaper overnight. The paper may not be touched by the water and the flower stems may not touch the bottom of the vase."

Wow. In that case I don't think I would want a fifty red rose bouquet from my husband! ;-)

Interview with the artist - Dawn of Jewelry Art by Dawn

2012-01-02T09:00:00.002+01:00

I'm happy to say I can start this new series of posts with a bang, an interview with one of my dearest friends, Dawn, whom I met at one of my favorite sites, the Starving Jewelry Artists forum back then, now the Jewelry Artisans Community. I own several pieces she made, with this pendant of Merlin of course being the one dearest to my heart.

Tell us a little about who you are and where you come from.

Originally from Canada, I have lived in beautiful Northern California most of my life. When not working as a school secretary, I enjoy travel, gardening (have a black thumb, but I keep trying), reading (thoroughly enjoying The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes at the moment), cooking gourmet meals and spending time with my husband and our black lab.

What's your craft/art and how did you get to do it in the first place?

I paint tiny pendants - most not much larger than an American quarter and turn them into hand crafted jewelry designs. Along with the pendants I often paint wood beads to match and incorporate those into the designs along with semi-precious stones and copper.
Copper wire work is often part of my designs as well. While not a natural at working with wire, I have put in a lot of effort and practice to improve my skills. I think I can honestly say that I'm to the point that my wire work is adequate. I started out using copper wire as I didn't want to waste sterling silver when I knew I'd be going through a lot of wire during the learning process. Over time, I've come to love the warm, beautiful tones of oxidized copper and now use it almost exclusively.
Wire weaving is a technique I've recently added to my designs and I find it fascinating. Using this method, I'm adding wire woven frames to some of my pendants.

Painted miniature seagull pendant with wire woven frame

Jewelry making found me by accident. A friend sent me some charms from the famous Lascaux caves in France and I wanted to turn them into a bracelet, but didn't have a clue how to proceed. That led me to visit the local bead store one day and ask how it's done. I was shown how to put a crimp bead on beading wire and was immediately hooked. The possibilities seemed endless once I crimped that first crimp bead. It was like an "aha" moment.

I think this is one of the most asked questions - where does your inspiration come from?

Color, nature and shape all influence my work. Something as simple as the shape of a lamp could end up being the inspiration for a pair of earrings.
It's always amazing to me that a field of wildflowers can be a riot of color, yet none of it clashes; all those colors look fabulous together. I'm drawn to the randomness and lack of color rules found in a field of wildflowers.

Tell us a fun thing about yourself.

Don't tell anyone, but I often talk in my sleep. At least my sleepwalking days seem to be over!

Do you do other crafts, if yes, what?

No, it's always been drawing and painting for me. It's done on a much smaller scale now than in the past and pairing it with jewelry design is very fulfilling creatively.

Which one of your pieces is your absolute favorite? Which one was the hardest to make and why?

This is a question that always has the same answer. My favorite piece is the one I'm currently working on. In order for me to focus my full attention and do my best work it has to be. When it's done, I may admire it, but once I start the next project, it becomes my new favorite piece.
As far as hardest goes, those are usually ones where I'm using a new technique that I'm not completely familiar with, which causes me to obsess over whether or not it's good enough. Usually I end up making whatever it is over and over until I feel that the craftsmanship is something I'm comfortable showing to others. I make myself crazy over this sometimes!

Is there someone whom you admire and who inspires you?

There are many jewelry artists whom I admire. Some do work that I may never tackle like incredibly intricate works of art with seed beads. Artists who have mastered working with precious metal clay and polymer clay produce fascinating pieces. There is some fantastic wire work out there that makes my jaw drop. Don't even get me started on those who do beautiful work with metal - you'll never get me to shut up! Mostly, I admire those who are innovative, original, and who continually strive to grow in and perfect their craft.

If you had free choice of one supply you need for your craft/art, what would it be?

I really had to think about this question.
My first thought was a studio - a real honest to goodness serious studio where I could spread out my work and have stations dedicated to painting, wire work, photography and hopefully some day torching and playing with metal.
After thinking about it some more, I came to the conclusion that the one thing I'd really like is time. There is never enough time to accomplish all the things I would like to do. It's a funny thing about time. It's not a tangible thing that one can buy, hold in their hands or look at, yet I think most of us wish we had more of it.

Do you sell online, if yes, where can we find you?

Yes, I can be found at Jewelry Art by Dawn on ArtFire.

Is there anything you feel you need or want to tell the world outside now?

I love what I do and each piece I make reflects just how much by the time, care and detail that goes into them. I want the people who own my pieces to love them as much as I loved creating them and always have that thought in the back of my mind when making a new jewelry design.

I'd also like to tell the world how much I appreciate you for this feature about my work. You're awesome, Cat, thank you so much! (I seriously thought about leaving that out, but maybe you have fun imagining my dark red face right now ... my Latin teacher kept saying flushing like that is good for the skin! ;-))

Painted Luna moth pendant with wired beads chain

Actually I think I'm the one who has to thank Dawn for letting us take a look into her creative brain!
Check out her shop, there's so much more to see than I have been able to cover here!

Quote of the week

2012-01-01T23:03:00.000+01:00

First of all let me wish you all a Happy New Year. I'm a little late, I admit, but not too late. It's still the 1st here. I hope that you had a smooth transition into the new year and that it welcomed you in a good way.

The day here was foggy. I don't mind fog as long as I am not outside in it for too long, my sense of direction is bad enough without it. When I'm inside, it makes me feel all cuddly. I celebrated the feeling with a Cary Grant DVD marathon and with practising a new technique (about which you'll hear more in a few days).

As I don't have much time in this day left, forgive me for taking the easy way out and take a quote from a Cary Grant movie once again. Come on, you know I can't help it.

Let me ask you one question first ... what do you think about building a house? I don't think I could. I almost went nuts when our kitchen got done and the hallway. It felt as if the contractors were here all the time. The cats had to be locked away and hated it, I couldn't run around the way I would have wanted to ... and my, they started early, even on days when I didn't have to work and would have loved a little more sleep.

Mr. Blandings is building a house. About everything that can go wrong is going wrong. I love this movie although I do a lot of cringing when watching it.

One of my favorite scenes is when the house has kept growing on the paper and the architect is looking for a way to save money. But hey, you can never have enough space, can you? Especially with two daughters ...

Mrs. Blandings: I refuse to endanger the health of my children in a house with less than four bathrooms.

Mr. Blandings: For 1300 $ they can live in a house with three bathrooms and rough it.

Mr. Blandings builds his dream house, USA, 1948

By the way, I also highly recommend the book this movie is based on!

Excuses

2011-12-30T23:53:00.000+01:00

I could tell you a lot of things while I'm such a lazy blog writer lately and all of them would be true, but it wouldn't make a difference, right?

So I'll just blame it all on Esme. No way I can work well at the computer with a giant cat like that, taking over everything? ;-)

Not a Monday collection ...

2011-12-26T21:38:00.000+01:00

Let's make it short and crisp. I left ArtFire. It doesn't matter when, why, where, who, what ... I left and that's that.

Most of my items are moved to my Zibbet, DaWanda and VonDir shops already. That's all that is changing, promise.

Well, there's one more thing. I don't make the Monday collections anymore now. Instead the Monday will be reserved to either artist features or my finds of the week. Unfortunately my decision came rather sudden which means I was totally unprepared for today (and also means that I neglected to send all kinds of Christmas greetings, shame on me).

I'll do my best to distract you with a picture instead. Look, it's a cat with a box!

Shhh ... did it work?

Quote of the week

2011-12-25T17:30:00.000+01:00

I'm a Blackadder fan, since I have quoted from the series before, it's too late to hide that. One of my favorites is the Christmas story, quite loosely based on Dickens's story ....

Blackadder: Nuts, turkey and presents. What more could a man desire at Christmas?

Baldrick: Well, a tree.

Blackadder: Oh, of course, I quite forgot. I dropped in on Mister Thicktwistle's Garden Emporium and, I think you'll agree, got quite a bargain on this special Christmas ... twig.

Unfortunately we won't get to see this "enormous" twig decorated as Mr. Blackadder's niece takes it away later. What a pity, I bet it would have looked splendid!

Blackadder's Christmas Carol, UK, 1988

P.S. Charlie Brown and his little tree comes to mind, don't you think? ;-)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T09:57:00.000+01:00

I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful and stressfree Christmas and so do the two mice in our little decoration!

Komodo sun

2011-12-20T09:00:00.002+01:00

No, I'm not out to "hunt" the dragons, but the dragons ... wait, let me start at the beginning.

You know that with most of what I do I'm not bound to a certain spot. Somehow I haven't had one of my night sessions in my library armchair for a while, but last night I went up there and got drawn in by my Robin Hood DVD (the old BBC TV series) while rummaging through my storage box. It's amazing what things you can find when you haven't even been looking for them, that strand of andalusite I had been saving, some silver beads I had forgotten about, Tundura sapphires, a small bag of leopard skin jasper and an agate ring.

After a little thinking, humming along with Robin's Merry Men and fiddling I had an idea and this is the result. The way the beads lie next to each other reminded me of a lizard ... a dragon ... Komodo! And when I found the matte black agate I still had fit right into the middle, I was really happy.

Komodo sun pendant

Nothing much has been happening in my life beside that. I read, I work, I play, I get tortured by the cats (Ponder cooking bead soup for me by jumping on my bead mats for example), I get loved by the cats (nothing like a tiny cat like Meffi sleeping on your head, yup, not next to my head), pretty normal everything and probably pretty boring to you. Sorry about that ;-)

The Monday collection - Santa Claus is coming to town

2011-12-19T09:00:00.002+01:00

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

I can't help it, I love Christmas carols, no matter if it's the traditional ones or the modern ones and at this time of year they bounce through my head constantly!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-12-18T09:00:00.001+01:00

As you already know, it wouldn't be Christmas without a few movies very dear to my heart, so guess what? Yes, we're gonna have a Christmas movie quote, yay!

Remember how we were as children? We didn't hold back with our opinion about presents we didn't like. Politeness, come on now!
I bet Aunt Clara would have been a little hurt about Ralphie's (ah, I can see the first ones already know what movie this is about) reaction to the wonderful pink bunny costume she made for him.

Ralphie as Adult narrating: Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl.

I just watched that scene again, it never fails to crack me up!! Do you understand why when looking at this picture?

A Christmas Story, USA, 1983

The Monday collection - Veggies galore

2011-12-12T09:00:00.003+01:00

It's really dangerous to make a collection with yummy looking veggie items, I was so craving food afterwards which is hard if you are looking at a very empty fridge!

I'm not sure the task of cooking would be easier with these veggies around, they are not very nutritious, but so much fun!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-12-11T17:08:00.000+01:00

I have been obsessed with my bead loom this weekend and am late, I know.

I'll keep it short and give you a quote from one the best known highschool movies ever, I think.

It's also something to think about.

Alison (the outsider): Why are you being so nice to me?

Claire (the "school princess"): Because you're letting me.

You know what movie it is? Then let's sing together "Don't you forget about me ...." ;-)

The Breakfast Club, USA, 1985

P.S. And yes, I thought Bender was real hot, too ...

Experiment and a torso

2011-12-09T13:03:00.000+01:00

Not experiments with a torso, you crazy people! ;-)

Let's talk about the experiment first (in the meanwhile you can fuel your fantasies about the torso). You know that when I learn a new technique, I have to think of a way how to combine it with the "old" ones. Ever since I started bead looming, my brain has been going click, click, click about how to bring it together with wire crochet. The very first attempt was pathetic to say the least. I didn't even rip up the cuff yet because I hate to separate tiny beads, even if there are only two colors.

Of course I was inspired by Erin Simonetti after seeing her using kumihimo threads in her work. If you can use thicker threads, you can use wire crochet ropes, can't you?

Here's news for you. You can.

Keep in mind, this is an experimental piece, but after learning a few essentials from this one, I think there are quite a few possibilities to play with this and I'm looking forward to it!

Now the torso. Gee, people, really. You'll be disappointed. Meet Ms Newberry (and no, there's no story to the name, it just popped up in my mind).

Ms Newberry started her job today - after a short introduction yesterday. Her job description is to stand in my upstairs kitchen all day and to model a longer necklace from time to time. She's wearing a little outfit in decent grey at the moment. I might have to keep her away from the computer, I don't want her to start ordering less decent outfits!

I know she's not a torso, she's a personality with ... hm ... with arms, but without head or legs. I don't know much more about her yet except the fact that you have to be careful with her arms when you carry her around because she likes to lose them. If she develops any more interesting quirks, I'll let you know ;-)

Universe

2011-12-07T23:19:00.000+01:00

I'm not really good at making free form pieces. I have to push myself hard to make something slightly asymmetrical and free form ... well, that takes me back to school when I argued with my art teacher about being too much in love with details and too stuck to symmetry. I can still see him taking my tool from me when we had to do an etching of a forest, scratching some wild branches into my carefully designed wood, telling me that nature was wild. So he was right, but still .... let's say we loved to provoke each other and being almost grown up now I see he did have some points and am able to admit it, too :-P

This piece started out with an attempt of using thicker gauge wire for needle lace. I'm not sure anymore what exactly I wanted to do with it then, but when I found it today and then stumbled upon some more gorgeous bubble lampwork beads by Deronda O'Neill, it was like a sign - possibly from my art teacher *grin*

The beads look like the planet Earth to me with their lovely color and this gave me the idea to turn the silver into the atmosphere surrounding it, keeping it organic and "wild".

"Universe" is available in my studio now.

The Monday collection - Stripes, stripes, stripes

2011-12-05T09:00:00.002+01:00

From socks to zebra butts you'll find all kinds of stripey fun in this collection. I admit my favorite are the zebra butts ;-)

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-12-04T09:00:00.002+01:00

Today is about a movie I keep coming back to, probably because of being attracted by the 60s mood ...

Here a short summary - ladykiller dentist Julian Winston tells his lover Toni Simmons he is married while he's not. After she tries to kill herself, he wants to marry her, but when she wants to meet his (non-existent) wife, he's in trouble. He asks his assistant Stephanie, a rather prickly and stern woman, to play his wife. Throw in Igor, the young playwright, Harvey, the annoying actor and Julian's friend, and Mr. Sanchez, the diplomat, and start the merry-go-round ...

My quote today is from the scene when Stephanie has to go out with Harvey to prove to Toni that she wants the divorce just as much as Julian. Harvey orders champagne and Stephanie looks at the label ...

"Oh, I didn't know they made champagne in Idaho."

All I can say to that is "Cheers!" ;-)

Cactus Flower, USA, 1969

P.S. Why do I feel the urge to make a 60s inspired piece of jewelry now ... strange ...

Friday Musings Illustrated

2011-12-02T20:35:00.001+01:00

I bet you know the excitement of finding a long expected parcel in your mailbox. This landed in my mailbox yesterday as part of a swap in my bead looming group (if you are curious and want to know more about bead looming, check out Erin Simonetti's blog, but be sure to sit while having a look), it came all the way from Australia from the lovely Gretchen.

Isn't it beautiful and slinky? And it's MINE!

I haven't shared my latest adventures in looming with you for a while. These are just a few of my latest cuffs. As you can see I'm still experimenting.

I have been wanting to tell you about this snail for a while. The talented ColtPixy (sssh, she has a 50 % clearance sale in her ArtFire studio right now!!) swapped her for some of my things. I'm totally in love with her, can you see why?

What else have I been up to ... let me think. I listed more pieces, I took pictures, I scheduled blog posts and I have to giggle every time I hear the name Tesla, but that's a long story. I cooked, I keep struggling with level 50 of an online game and yell /$%§/$/"" a lot. I give Esme her pills and am happy that she comes back to me afterwards instead of hiding. I am working on an eye pendant, slightly creepy, but fun.

And I had a far too long nap this afternoon which kept me from folding the laundry. What a shame ;-) You won't get to see a picture of that, either. Oh yeah, I should write two e-mails quite urgently.

One more last picture before I go, for those who don't read Ponder's blog. Isn't he like a visitor from the past?

The Monday collection - Breakfast anyone?

2011-11-28T09:00:00.001+01:00

What breakfast type are you?

There are people who need a quiet breakfast and their newspaper, there are the runners who only grab a quick bite on the way out, there are those believing in a healthy breakfast with all important ingredients to give them a good start into the day, there are those who try not to fall asleep in their coffee cup, there are those who prefer it sweet and those who prefer it hearty ... but no matter what type you are, I bet you never had a breakfast like this one!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-11-27T09:00:00.002+01:00

I'm not a runner. I'm not even a walker to be honest. I wouldn't know about the hormones that kick in to give you that absolute pleasure and happiness when you are running and I wouldn't know how it is to compete with someone running against you (I'll spare you my my embarrassing experiences from school ;-)).

You wonder because you never even have seen the word "sports" mentioned in this blog (except one time when Ponder was debating about joining a sports college)?

Today's quote is from a sports movie, one could say. Actually it's not only about running however, but two very different athletes. One of them, Eric Liddell is running to praise God through his talents, the other one, Harold Abrahams, who is Jewish is running for fame and to overcome prejudice.

The movie is based on facts.

Harold M. Abrahams: I don't run to take beatings! I run to win! If I can't win, I won't run!
Sybil Gordon: If you don't run, you can't win.

Chariots of Fire, UK, 1981

Inspiration versus stash

2011-11-26T23:47:00.001+01:00

It is a win win situation when that happens. In this case I have three pendants.

I got the everyday design, a lovely big hole lampwork bead by Melissa Vess hanging on a drop, crocheted from fine silver wire. I see it with a blouse and jeans for example.

Wire crochet drop with lampwork bead

I got the unusual one of a kind design, modern, bold, full of contrast between the black and the white parts.

It's made up of a piece of white shell, a matte black agate, both caught in fine silver wire crochet bezels, and opaline and black Swarovski crystals.

Wire crochet one of a kind black and white pendant

Last, but not least I got an elegant and feminine design, dainty and beautiful, made from apatite beads almost hiding away in a little silver wire crochet "bowl", surrounding a white pearl. From that bowl dangles a headpin with five more pearls.

Apatite, pearls and silver wire crochet pendant

And you know what? They are all listed already. Just click the caption under the images!

Stop the thief! ;-)

2011-11-24T23:00:00.001+01:00

Do you remember the Slouchies? I told you about them here. What you don't know yet is that one of them moved into my house where he has been standing on my desk, leaning at my box of business cards, smiling at me.

This is what Cleody told the world before I adopted my Slouchy:

"This little Slouchy has been naughty.
Apparently on their home planet, this little one got into the habit of stealing pretty trinkets from other Slouchies. After coming through the portal, we decided to give him another chance. However, it was apparent that his love for shiny things was too great. He began running around in a frenzy, giggling and hopping around, rolling in my jewelry and plucking shiny accessories from other Slouchies.
This little one is no danger to others, so he is allowed to function as any other Slouchy would. However, to keep him from stealing, he sleeps in a tiny jail cell made of popsicle sticks and he empties his little pockets every night before going into the cell. It's a pretty good system so far.
I hope whoever adopts this little one doesn't mind the occasional piece of jewelry going missing.
He's a little thief, but who could resist that little smirk?"

Yeah, now tell me it's not as if I haven't been warned, but it's true, I couldn't resist that little smirk and the little fellow makes me smile each time I look at him. Sometimes I discuss new designs or photos with him and he has been very helpful so far.

For some reason I started calling him Ben.

Well, today I had a look over there to the box and Ben was gone, but not alone. He had grabbed some of my unlisted pieces and made a run for it. I finally found him in my library where he tried to blend in. Too bad that brown wood and a jailbird outfit don't blend too well. Around his neck he wore three long lariats, wire crochet ropes, all of them with lampwork beads by Deronda Designs.

He didn't hesitate to give them back to me, though, and he made my heart melt, so I let him wear the pair of earrings that I finished today, gunmetal colored hoops with sparkly Swarovskis all around.

I'm glad he hadn't seen my last two listed items, a bracelet and earrings, also both with lampwork beads by two of my favorite "fire" girls, from Pink Beach Studios and Melissa Vess.

Wire crochet rope bracelet with lampwork bead

Wire crochet rope hoops with lampwork beads

I guess now that Ben has licked blood, I'll have to have an extra eye on him. I don't even want to think about what will happen when he teams up with Ponder, my other master thief! ;-)

The Monday collection - Old MacDonald had a farm

2011-11-21T09:00:00.002+01:00

.... and here are all his animals. There's not really much to say about this collection, it speaks for itself and I had big fun putting it together!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

And a little extra for all of those who love Donald as much as I do!

Thank you, Veevid4u!

Quote of the week

2011-11-20T09:00:00.002+01:00

Are you ready for a premiere? Today I didn't take my quote from a movie or a TV series, but from one of my all-time favorite comic strips. Its stars have been around for a long time and they are great not in a "right in the face" way, but in a subtle and intelligent way.

Mind you, what could be more subtle than a beagle being a world famous cashier or a WW I flying ace? ;-)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Linus decided to be a fanatic. A real fanatic. One who doesn't really care what to be fanatical about, though. Sort of a wishy-washy fanatic.

Then Charlie Brown sees him making weird faces.

Linus: I've decided I should be more than just a fanatic ... I'm going to be a wild-eyed fanatic!!

There's nothing to add to that.

Charles M. Schulz: But WE love you, Charlie Brown, 1959

Finishing touches

2011-11-18T17:48:00.000+01:00

You know how from time to time I'm trying to finish stuff. I'm definitely not the only one with a load of WIPs around or with a stash of beads etc. that could buy me my own tennis court (no, I don't play tennis which makes the decision for the stash a lot easier) and every, now and then the moment comes to calm your own bad conscience and finish a WIP or use up a few beads (wire, cabs, clay, yarn, whatever your poison may be). Afterwards you can happily start fourteen new WIPs and put in a huge bead order and it will feel so right!

I actually did both (AND even listed an item) and I hope you are as impressed as I am about myself. I think I earned myself the right to order Delicas in abundance later. Now if I could get enough peace to take photos, everything would be fine, but it's hard to concentrate on the right lighting with a yelling cat sitting in front of the door. So you will only get to see pictures of one piece now.

This necklace actually started out as a sample for a custom order. The middle part is spool knit fine silver with my beloved dark red and black Swarovski crystals, a color combination that I'm crazy about because it looks so luscious. I crocheted a very slim silver rope to go on each side and added a little focus to where the spool knit part meets the rope by wrapping around two rows of crystals.

It's dainty, it's elegant, it sparkles ... and it will hopefully be listed in my shop tomorrow!

The Monday collection - Good manners

2011-11-14T00:00:00.001+01:00

Good manners - the noise you don't make when you're eating soup ~ Bennett Cerf

This reminds me of the scene from the movie "Clue" when they eat the soup. Hilarious. I could never take that one for the quote of the week post because I would have to show a video of it, but I love Madeline Kahn as .... oops, digressing once again.

I like soup, I really do and sometimes I have a sudden craving for it. That's why I set out to look for soupy items on ArtFire. Just look what I found!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-11-13T09:00:00.001+01:00

Ssssh. It's me. And yes, I am cheating a little. Did you think I forgot this post? I didn't, I just have something else on my mind at the moment, a big something. Cat-related, you know.

Blogger is so nice to let me backdate posts however, so I thought, oh what the heck, let's do that.

I'm surprised at myself for not sharing a quote from this movie with you before. I remember when a friend took me to the movies insisting I should see it. We were probably about fifteen people there at the time. The movie was in English with subtitles and just now I found I can't remember ever watching it in German. Sorry, enough rambling, we'll get to the quote now.

Rigby Reardon is a private detective who gets drawn into a fascinating case ... and he gets to meet some people who seem strangely familiar. The story has been mixed with scenes from other black and white movies, so we get to see Humphrey Bogart, Burt Lancaster, Cary Grant, James Cagney and lots of others, and it's not at all badly done for a movie from the early 80s.

Very unlike Reardon's aka Steve Martin's transformation into a lady .... that's bad.

Reardon: I was wearing a special perfume called "Fondle me". Its aroma drew Neff to me like fat to a mother-in-law.

He doesn't look as if he likes the fondling part much ;-)

Dead men don't wear plaid, USA, 1982

Reardon: Ich trug ein besonderes Parfum mit dem Namen "Liebkose mich". Sein Duft zog Neff an wie Marmelade die Fliegen.

Dein Helfer

2011-11-10T09:00:00.003+01:00

That means "Your Helper" and that is what this little booklet is called and it gives "precious information and hints for house and home". It has a little thread on which you could hang it into your kitchen, I guess. I'm not sure if the sunshine of my life has tried to tell me something by getting this for me .... (actually I'm collecting old cookbooks ;-))

So how about if I share some of that precious information with you. We can talk about how to get spots out of your clothes or what to do in case your potatoes are frozen. I don't give any guarantee, however. You'll understand that.

The booklet was probably published in the late 40s, after the war. Some things might be handled differently nowadays, what do you think?

Let's start with the frozen potatoes, shall we?

"These must thaw slowly by being put into cold saltwater and brought into a warm room. That way they lose the sweet taste. You have to use them as quickly as possible then."

Now aren't you glad you know that now? Stay tuned for the next hint! ;-)

Patience

2011-11-09T21:46:00.000+01:00

Patience is precious and doesn't come easy. Not to me, anyway. As you know the only exception is when I pick up the hook - or now the needle.

The following piece is one of those examples. It began as an experiment born from a childhood memory. When I was a child, I had a velvet ribbon with an embroidered colorful butterfly sewn to it. I don't know what happened to it. Now I can't embroider and I can't sew as you know, so I had to deal with this my way.

I'll cut the story short (just in case you don't have as much patience as me, hehe). I loomed a butterfly focal, I crocheted a wide choker (with a small hook because I'm weird that way) and then I brought those two together. It sounds short, but believe me, it wasn't.

Of course this idea didn't come alone, they never do, it brought along some pals that are waiting on my "inspiration list" now ...

And as I had worn out my patience, I then worked on my "Use up that stash or you will never be allowed to buy any beads again" project (don't mention the bead order I put in on Sunday) and made this ring with faceted stones left over from other pieces. Nothing like a little sparkle on your finger.

The ring is available in my shop now.

The Monday collection - Ribbit ... ribbit ...

2011-11-07T09:00:00.001+01:00

Of all the summer nights I spent at the farm of my godmother's parents as a child, I remember one in particular. We had that big campfire in the garden (I was about 7, it seemed very big to me), it was warm, the food was good, the children were running around, the grown-ups were talking ... and in the background you could hear the frogs and the crickets sing.

Oh, and there was the one time we went to the lake in the woods and there were all those little frogs on the path, so many of them. Okay, maybe they were toads, I didn't really care then, all that mattered was they were so cute.

This collection was made in memory of childhood summer nights. I found some great things, go check them out!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-11-06T18:46:00.000+01:00

Oh my. It's evening already. It's not that I forgot about it being Sunday aka Quote Day, but I was preoccupied with something else. All day. Yeah, yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but that's the way it is.

Therefore I'll keep the post short now and write down what you may think now.

"Incontheivable."

You don't have to lisp when you think it, but Vizzini who says it more than once in the movie does, I just wanted to give you an idea of it.

Actually there seems to be a lot of incontheivable things according to Vizzini. If you know the movie, you also know what I'm talking about.

The Princess Bride, USA, 1987

P.S. Wallace Shawn who played Vizzini says people still come up to him saying this. I'm almost ashamed to say that I'm so unoriginal, I would probably do the same thing!

Tears of the cloud

2011-11-05T15:28:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time there was a little rain cloud. It was pretty cute for one that doesn't look all fluffy and white like cotton balls, but no one noticed. Whenever it went out to play, all the people down there started opening their umbrellas or running off.

The little cloud was very sad about that. Just because she was dark and grey didn't mean she was something to be scared of. She had never done anyone any harm and she didn't intend to.

One day when another bunch of people had fled just at the sight of her, she started crying. Suddenly she heard a laugh and she looked down in surprise. There stood a woman smiling at her who caught the cloud's tears in her hand ... and they were all sparkly and beautiful ...

Tears of the cloud one of a kind pendant

Cheesy, huh? I'm not saying I am this imaginary woman, but I do like rain, not just when I'm inside to watch it through the window.

The beautiful grey agate cab reminded me of a rain cloud, so I decided to really make it one. I crocheted a bezel for the cab, then I made the individual parts of the cloud, attached them to the bezel and to each other and topped it with a handwrapped bail.

The sparkly tears are clear Swarovski crystals which do not only set a contrast, but also bring movement to this one of a kind pendant which is available in my studio now.

Random questions

2011-11-04T20:36:00.000+01:00

Do you also have the feeling that your brain is working constantly? Can you hear it ticking and sometimes smell the smoke?

The brain is a miracle. Still sometimes I think something is wrong with mine. Why else would it come up with those detailed, yet oh so crazy dreams (which still can be lots of fun at times), why else does it take me on those quick train of thoughts that might start with cauliflower and end with a princess in fairy land?

And why does it keep asking questions to which I don't have an answer?

How come that you see a cat sitting in a spot, turn around for a second, and when you turn back, there's a different cat in the exact same spot?

Why is it you go to a store to get something and you end up buying everything else, but forgetting that "something"? Which of course you don't notice before getting back home.

How come that always the cat who has to go to the vet is the one disappearing when you come back home while the others stay around?

Why do I wake up early on a day off, but almost have to be shaken to wake up on a workday?

Does the city I have been dreaming of for decades exist and if it does, where is it and would I find my way around there without a map?

Why do I like cauliflower and broccoli, but can't stand romanesco?

Where do single socks really go? Is there something like a sock club? And why do they come back as soon as I have thrown the other one away?

Will I live to see all seasons of "Murphy Brown" published on DVD finally?

Who was the fool who made laptop keys so you can't put them back on yourself if one comes off? *staring at my crooked CTRL-key*

See what I mean? Instead I could concentrate on that laundry basket or that terribly unorganized materials drawer. In my dreams, guys, in my dreams! ;-)

The Monday collection - I vant to suck your blood

2011-10-31T09:00:00.005+01:00

Today is Halloween and I think it wouldn't be Halloween without vampires (again my first time celebrating comes to mind and I almost started telling you about it, but I remembered just in time I already did before). We had the bats and now we have the human, but undead kind.

So enjoy and I wish you all ....

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-10-30T09:00:00.001+01:00

Imagine your highschool reunion. People talk about what they have been doing the last years, about their jobs, their careers, their kids, houses, pets and cars. Harmless fun, isn't it? Not that exciting, though, unless one of your old buddies happened to become the president of a tiny state in the South American jungle ....

..... or a paid hitman.

Now if you happen to have been in love with said hitman who just left you standing for your prom, this could get an exciting reunion, even more so when his new assignment is to go after your Dad.

Marty is not sure about his job anymore and therefore seeks help of a therapist who is afraid of him unfortunately.

Marty: Don't you think maybe you're just upset because I told you what I do for a living and you got upset and you're letting it interfere with our dynamic?

Dr. Oatman: Woah! Martin, you didn't tell me what you did for a living ...

Marty: Yes, I did!

Dr. Oatman: You didn't tell me what you did for a living for four sessions. Then you told me, and I said "I don't wanna work with you!" And yet you come back every week at the same time. That's a difficulty for me. On top of that, if you've committed a crime or if you're thinking about committing a crime, I have to tell the authorities.

Marty: I know the law, okay? But I don't want to be withholding. I'm very serious about this process. And I know where you live.

Dr. Oatman: Oh, now see. That wasn't a nice thing to say. That wasn't designed to make me feel good. That's a kind of not-too-subtle intimidation and I, uh ... I get filled with anxiety when you talk about something like that.

Marty: Come on, come on.

Dr. Oatman: I mean, that's ...

Marty: I was just kidding, all right. The thought never crossed my mind.

Dr. Oatman: You did think of it, Martin. You thought of it and then you said it. And now I'm left with, uh ... with the aftermath of that ... thinking I gotta ... I gotta be creative in a really interesting way now or Martin's gonna blow my brains out.

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but Dr. Oatman is actually one person who survives ...

Grosse Pointe Blank, USA, 1997

A glimpse into the past

2011-10-29T09:00:00.002+02:00

You might know that I collect books, new and old ones. But like all collectors sometimes I have to let go of something because of space. The neighbors are stubborn and won't give me their apartment to store my books in it ... even worse, they store their own hundreds of books there! It's a good thing I like them.

So when I find there are books that don't really fit my collection because I won't read them again, because they don't belong to a series or - and that's rarely the case - because I never even read them, they have to go, to a used book site, to a library, to a book project.

The books I'm talking about today are children's books from the 30s and in Gothic print, so I couldn't think of anyone spontaneously who would want to have them. Many people can't read that print anymore.

When I picked up one, a little note fell out, a note from 1937 when a grandmother gave the book to her grandson. Some words I could read right away, with others I struggled a bit and for one I thought I'd need my Mom's help, but then it suddenly came to me.

Am I proud? Heck, yeah! I can read Gothic print just fine and without hesitating. I also did learn Sütterlin in elementary school (yes, so I'm old, shoot me), but just so we would get an idea of it, not really thoroughly.

Wanna give it a try, too? The only word that is missing half in the picture is the town mentioned on the second page ... Donaueschingen. That's all you'll get ;-)

You know what's weird? I don't want to keep the books, but I want to keep the note. Ungh.

The hermit

2011-10-28T23:20:00.000+02:00

It has been one of those weeks where things just don't go quite right. I have been told it's my age's fault that I lose patience easier. I never knew that happens at 25 already!

Kidding aside, you know I don't need to make myself younger, but at the moment I sure wish I could make myself a little calmer. Don't worry, this is not going to be a rant. Well, not more than it has been already if you can read between the lines ;-)

My plan - that I put before different people - was to grow a beard and become a hermit. The people I talked to have not entirely been helpful. One of them for example doubted my ability to grow a beard and it's true. If we were talking legs, oh my, but my chin doesn't play along.

Then the question of electricity was brought up. It seems caves usually don't have electricity. You can tell I'm still in the very early stages of that hermiting thingy because I hadn't thought of it myself right away.

Another problem is that there seem to be quite few caves on the housing market. Can you imagine I couldn't find any caves that are close enough to a supermarket? And sometimes you even have to bring your own goat. I wonder if I could dress the cats up as goats. Ponder sounds like a sheep sometimes, it's a start, right?

Maybe I'll wait until spring, though. It'll give me time to get things organized ................................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................................

oops, sorry, I need a time out for a good laugh. Organization and me are not on good terms at the moment.

At least today I tried to catch up on things. I put my new book aside (a new Pratchett at that! *whimper*) and actually listed something, did the litter boxes and cataloged a few books, then snuggled the cats. Oh, and I got my hair trimmed and my bangs, so I can actually read what I'm writing here.

My hopes are very high for getting some important things on my list done tomorrow.

Here's one of the pieces I listed today. A friend suggested it looked like a portal. Maybe I could find my cave somewhere in that forest? ;-)

Portal to the forest

The Monday collection - A black cat crossing your path ...

2011-10-24T09:00:00.002+02:00

... signifies that the animal is going somewhere.

Pretty smart of you to say that, Groucho Marx. Of course it could also be that said black cat crosses your path back and forth whining like a baby to get your attention and ... oops, I think I was a little distracted here by something that is happening right this minute and that will make me need a straightjacket if it goes on for much longer ...

I proudly present some great black cats, #5 of my Halloween collections.

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-10-23T09:00:00.001+02:00

You may have wondered where I am or maybe you haven't. I've been down with a fever the last few days and while on one hand I have enlarged my knowledge on 50s movies and watched some of my DVDs again because my brain wouldn't allow for much more, on the other hand I have seemed to lost my ability to count until six. You'll hear more about that later, though ... I hope.

Today's quote is from one of my favorite TV series once again. I wonder how much longer the DVDs will hold out against my excessive use of them ;-)

I just watched this episode today and the quote made me think because it's so true.

Alan Shore: I have never ever considered myself someone who puts work before friendship. Seems I do.

Jerry Espenson: We all do, Alan. Friendships are a little like backyard gardens. We plan to tend to them. We just always seem to put it off till next week.

It's not just work, though. It can be anything. Maybe it's time to tend to our backyard gardens now?

Boston Legal, USA, 2004 - 2008

The Monday collection - Quoth the raven, Nevermore

2011-10-17T09:00:00.002+02:00

Even if you maybe don't know the full text of Poe's The Raven (I know I don't), you have probably heard of it.

Ravens might not be the first creatures you think of when thinking of Halloween, but they make a great addition, so it's them to whom I dedicated #4 of my Halloween collections.

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-10-16T18:04:00.000+02:00

I remember lying on the rug in the living room on the farm of my godmother's parents. I don't know how old exactly I was, but I still was a child. There was this book on the shelf I kept staring at. Until this day I connect the book with that rug and the special atmosphere in that room. A summer day, a book and me ...

There's also a movie made after this book. I think both book and movie have an important, timeless message.

This quote gives you just a little idea of what that is.

Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch, an attorney defending a black man who is accused to have raped a white woman.

One day his daughter Scout is coming home from school all upset about her new teacher.

Atticus Finch: If you learn this single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.

Scout: Sir?

Atticus: Till you climb inside his skin and walk around in it.

To Kill A Mockingbird, USA, 1962

First glimpse of Christmas

2011-10-14T19:18:00.000+02:00

Sorry, but I happened to watch one of the Boston Legal Christmas episodes and it got me in the mood to put together this one of a kind set of Christmas ornaments part of which I had already made a while ago.

You wonder what the house has to do with it? In Germany when drawing a house like this one children say one syllable of this sentence with each line "Das ... ist ... das ... Haus ... vom ... Ni ... ko ... laus." which means that this is St. Nicholas' house.

I looked it up, it has 44 possible ways and is a problem from graph theory. Who would have thought?

All ornaments are crocheted wire tubes which have been shaped, attached in the right spots and flattened. This took me quite a while and quite a few Boston Legal episodes, I'm telling you! ;-)

You can find the set in my ArtFire studio now.

The Monday collection - Children of the night

2011-10-10T09:00:00.001+02:00

Some people are freaked out by them, I think they are beautiful and fascinating - bats. I'm sorry that the three that lived in our neighborhood for a weeks some years ago didn't want to (couldn't?) stay, I could have watched them for hours.

Oh, and I still want to apologize to bats for the embarrassing picture I made in school. We had to make a bat by glueing screws, nails, bolts and stuff to a piece of black cardboard. You might remember that glue and I are no friends. Poor bat. Had it been alive, it probably would have been laughed at by its peers. Sorry ...

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-10-09T18:27:00.000+02:00

Oh dear, oh dear ... is it Sunday already? I'm totally unprepared, to be honest. Now where to find a quote? The easy choice would of course be one of my Cary Grant movies as I'm soooo late already (who counts eight hours, though .... *cough*), but that would be really too easy.

Let me run to my DVD shelf really fast and have a look what I can come up with.

Would you believe it? Just now the phone rang and I got a complaint where the weekly quote is ;-)

Jerry Lewis - there's no grey zone, I think. Either you think he's just terribly silly or you see how well executed some of his jokes are. Take the dance in the kitchen in "Cinderfella" for example. This however is not the movie I chose for today.

Instead we'll have a quote from a movie in which Lewis hardly speaks. He's a bellboy named Stanley at a big hotel and he just does stuff without saying a word, messing a lot of things up of course.

In the end the bellboys are going to strike and Stanley is accused of being the ringleader. When being asked if he can't talk, he says that of course he can and when the manager wants to know why they had never heard that before, he says:

"Because no one ever asked me."

Oops.

I read that this movie was liked much more in Europe than in the USA. Well, I am in Europe and I like it ;-)

The Bellboy, USA, 1960

Kitty Halloween

2011-10-06T18:30:00.000+02:00

Halloween is creeping nearer and cats, well, they are always creeping around here (except Greebo who is snoring up a storm right now) and how things sometimes go ... I lost my Halloween witch cuff. Not really lost as in "no idea where it is, I have been looking everywhere!", but as in "ooooh, I like, did you want to keep that?". Money changed hands in a dark alley at midnight, the witch flew off with someone else and I had the best excuse to make another one for myself. Alright, baby! Or maybe alright, kitty?

P.S. The tail is crocheted from wire with beads. I didn't lose the touch for the hook, hehe.

The Monday collection - BOO!!

2011-10-03T09:25:00.000+02:00

Can you hear the chains rattle? Is that a shadow over there? What's that unearthly moaning?

Maybe you have ghosts!!

If they are as adorable as these, I don't think you have to fear anything, though!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-10-02T10:47:00.000+02:00

1. Today's quote is a little late. I have a severe case of head mush. For those who are not familiar with this scientific term, let's call it a cold ... the whole program, so thoughts take a little longer to make it through.

2. Today I'll do something I usually don't do. I combine the quote with something I made, something that was inspired by the movie. Let me show you a picture. This is my first extended pattern loomed cuff. In case you can't see through the shiny beads that made it so hard for me to take a picture of it, it's a shark.

3. You know the movie, right?

This quote is for my little brother. He knows why, and no, it's not because he likes to wear ugly hats.

Martin Brody, Chief of Police, to an elderly swimmer with a "smart" swimming cap on: "That's some bad hat, Harry."

'Nuff said.

Jaws, USA, 1975

Crystal planet

2011-09-27T09:00:00.002+02:00

I'm waiting for beads. I'm not good at waiting. The only way not to go and stalk the mailman is to distract myself. Changing sheets, doing laundry, eating pumpkin soup (that I didn't have to cook which always is a big plus) takes my mind off the beads only for so long, though. I dug into my stash (unfriendly people would call it hoard and imply I need an intervention) and pulled out some orphaned beads. Ok, not that orphaned, the green ones that I got from a friend were more of a small orphanage which now has been closed (I used them all up).

The result is this little rock crystal planet, surrounded by small green moons ... ehm, which can't move much, 1. because they are all on the same crowded orbit and 2. because I tied them to each other with two strands of silver wire. Yay, I'm evil on a planetary level, even if it's just a very small one ;-)

The pendant is available in my Von Dir-Shop now.

The Monday collection - Witchy times

2011-09-26T09:00:00.001+02:00

No matter if you celebrate it or not, Halloween is coming nearer. That was the perfect reason for me to make the first of more Halloween collections to come.

I had someone special in mind when making this one *waving to "my" Granny Weatherwax* Have fun with the witches!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-09-25T10:15:00.000+02:00

If you were one of the people spending more time with me, you would know the following quote. I use it a lot. I watch this movie a lot and it never loses its charm to me.

I'm an avid reader of mystery novels. Today many writers seem to think their stories have to be really gruesome and bloody, with detailed descriptions of the wounds and the maggots that crawl around in them, but honestly that often turns me away. Just the other day I put a book away because I couldn't stand the prologue describing a woman dying from being poisoned while holding her baby in her arms. Call me a wimp, but sometimes I rather go back to the old mysteries, the Miss Marples, the Professor Shandys, the Charlie Chans, the Chief Inspector Alleyns and so on.

This movie is as much an homage as a parody of those old detectives, packed with great actors.

Peter Sellers is Sidney Wang (Charlie Chan's alter ego ;-)), Truman Capote is Lionel Twain, the host who invited a group of famous detectives to his house to solve a murder ....

Wang: What meaning of this, Mister Twain?

Twain: I will tell you, Mister Wang, if you can tell me why a man who possess one of the most brilliant minds can't say his prepositions or articles. "THE, Mister Wang, what is THE meaning of this."

Wang: That what I said. What meaning of this?

If you don't know the movie, watch it. Enjoy the blind butler (a great Alec Guinness) and the deaf-mute cook (Nancy Walker in her last movie) and be surprised at the ending.

Murder by Death, USA, 1976

Tiny post

2011-09-24T22:54:00.000+02:00

I made tiny earrings. And tiny earrings (just one inch including the leverbacks!) get a tiny post. Here they are - tiny shells caught in fine silver wire to dangle on your ears, now listed in my ArtFire studio.

Mary Poppins, incomplete hearts and a witch

2011-09-23T23:50:00.000+02:00

Since I was a child, I have loved the Mary Poppins books by P. L. Travers. I can't say how often I read them. I still read them regularly. I always wished I could have been one of those children, and it's impossible for me to pick my favorite adventure.

When looking at the pendant I just listed I remember the story about Mary's relative. He could repair all kinds of porcelain things, cups, figurines, but he could also repair something much more important - hearts.

Have you ever wondered how to repair a heart that is not just broken, but missing a piece? I just couldn't help myself, this beautiful green freeform cab reminded me of an incomplete heart, so I went on a mission - I made the heart complete by crocheting fine silver wire into the missing piece. I hid the "scar" with rainbow moonstones. And yes, you have seen it before, but I didn't explain anything about it then, AND it's listed now. Progress!

Make my heart whole, now on Zibbet

I also have a confession to make. I don't have enough time. Now that I'm not only married to my crochet hooks, but have also caught the looming bug, I'm probably doomed.

Let me show you my latest cuff. Can you see I'm looking forward to Halloween? And here the circle is closing. I first read about Halloween in a Mary Poppins book. Yes, it's true, I swear!

By the way, even if I don't have any loomed cuffs in my shop (yet?), let me know if you want to talk about one.

The Monday collection - Trees

2011-09-19T09:00:00.001+02:00

I decided that from now on I'll try to curate a collection on ArtFire each week to share it with you. There are really cool items to be found you know, and this will be my excuse to do some extensive weekend browsing and go ooooh and aaaah - and maybe lose control one or the other time and get something for myself ;-)

So today I'll give you - THE LARCH! Nah, not really. I just couldn't resist because I love to say it. And it inspired me to make this tree collection. Enjoy!

My blog layout doesn't like the large collections. Please click the picture to get to the original collection!

Quote of the week

2011-09-18T10:17:00.000+02:00

Once upon a time it was very, very cold. There was ice everywhere and the animals started to looking for green pastures. That was the time when a sloth, a woolly mammoth and a saber-toothed tiger became friends.

Do I need to say more? Probably not. Let's skip the formalities and go right to today's quote then.

Keep it in mind for every clique, group, forum or whatever you are a part of ....

Sid: You're hanging out with us now. Dignity's got nothing to do with it.

So, so true! ;-)

Ice Age, USA, 2002

Welcome to autumn!

2011-09-17T20:21:00.000+02:00

If you prefer it, I'll welcome fall as well. Whatever you call it, it truly is welcome to me because it's my favorite season and I am really looking forward to it.

When the Starving Artists Team decided on "Change of seasons" as the subject for the September challenge, my brain started going into overdrive. My first idea was to crochet leaves in different colors with Swarovski crystals to enhance the colors and let them dangle from a chain on earwires. I'll keep that idea, you never know.

Then I thought it would be nice to have a tree with all the different colors - the green that is still showing, but will soon be gone, the yellow and red tones of fall ... so I came up with this little tree pendant on a slim tube rope.

Each tiny branch is crocheted individually with Swarovski crystals worked in as the leaves. You can wear the pendant from both sides of course with one side showing more yellow and green and the other one showing all three colors.

As there is not just one brown in nature, I chose to make the rope from a slightly different color. To me it makes the necklace look more alive. Of course it's no problem, should anyone prefer the same color for the rope and the tree.

This is available in my ArtFire studio now.

Oh dear, it's Monday ...

2011-09-12T09:00:00.001+02:00

... and all I can think of is sleeping.

How I wish I was one of these cats!


	Watch out, it's cat sleeping gas - an ArtFire collection (click the link for more information, unfortunately my blog layout doesn't like the large collection layouts ...)

Quote of the week

2011-09-11T10:28:00.000+02:00

Ok, I know. Sequels are rarely, if ever, as good as the first movie. The one I chose for today is not as good as the first one in my humble opinion. It's nice however and it's fun to watch, especially the scenes with Peter MacNicol as Dr. Janosz Poha, my favorite character in this movie. And of course I may choose because this is my blog. HA! Gotcha there.

Dana, the cellist from the first movie, is working at a museum now restoring paintings (am I the only one surprised about her being so multi-talented?).

In this scene you see people carrying a painting of Vigo (who'll try to possess Dana's baby boy later) in and you see Janosz supervising everything.

I'm glad I am not the assistant he's addressing in today's quote. The look on her face and the way she's shaking her head suggests she's not amused.

Janosz (in a heavy accent): Everything you're doing is bad. I want you to know this.

Alright! So uplifting. I guess Dr. Poha never attended a leadership seminar ;-)

Ghostbusters II, USA, 1989

Miss me?

2011-09-10T23:31:00.000+02:00

In that case you'll be happy to hear that I'm still around. Kind of. In an unorganized sort of way. I'm not sure what it is, but it seems I can't stick to my list, I can't even get myself to update it because I'm afraid I'll drop dead halfway, it'll be so long. Or maybe I'll break my wrist, you don't want that, do you? ;-)

To prove that I haven't dropped dead yet however, I'll show you my latest piggy. Right now I'm working on another critter, the excitement whether it'll work out or now is almost killing me. Almost only. Actually I wouldn't bet on this one to ever go public, but like always I'll at least have learned something from it!

Quote of the week

2011-09-04T00:00:00.001+02:00

I have been wanting to post this for a long time.

No idea if Americans know the Frenchman Louis de Funès, but I grew up with his movies. Some are just silly nonsense with lots of face making and puns, but some are brilliant.

In one of the brilliant ones de Funès is a bigoted factory owner who involuntarily gets involved with an Arab rebel which finally forces both to pose as rabbis to save their lives.

There is much more to it, a wedding, red hair, a Jewish chauffeur and green bubblegum. Hilarious all the way through. And also there is an abundance of quotes, but I would like to share this dance with you. Ignore the words, they are not that important.

The people think that they meet Rabbi Jacob after many years that he spent in the USA and the lady proudly announces that he'll dance for them now. In my opinion it's one of de Funès' best scenes EVER! I hope you'll enjoy as much as I do each time that I see it.

Thank you for the upload, MesoniLangea!

The adventures of Rabbi Jacob, F, 1973

Bead soup and other disappointments of life

2011-09-01T22:35:00.000+02:00

More time, more time ... my kingdom for more time! I'm so behind in telling you important things. Like what, you ask? Like the rain cloud I made (without dancing!), like the fact that my photo project came to a temporary stop, like what my vacation was like and and and ...

To make you see that it's actually not my fault, I'll tell you a little story.

One of my top priorities at the moment after work is pampering myself. That can be anything, a DVD, a new design idea, a long nap, a book, calling somebody, I just need that right now. And nowadays it can also be working on a loomed piece. I hear some people laughing who know what a big fight I put up to not get dragged into the bead net, well, yeah, I'm a weakling. There, I said it.

The cuff I'm working on at the moment only has two colors, and I'm not sure if I'll have enough beads. Of course I can buy more, but not around the corner and you know how it is, you don't want to wait for your beads or drive to Greenland for them. So you concentrate on believing that the number will be just right - as long as you don't lose any of the beads. You don't want to end up like with a puzzle that is missing one of its pieces.

I concentrated so hard that parts of my brain started smoking, so I can't be sure how it happened. One minute I was on my bed cross-legged looming along, the next minute I had beads all over the place. I was so shocked I forgot to take a picture, but look at this one, those things are really tiny! (Yes, they really are. This IS a macro! Do I have to explain everything? :-P)

Under surveillance of three interested cats I started picking up beads. They were everywhere and even had made their way under the pillows. Finally I figured I had found them all.

Let's now jump ahead to actual bedtime. I slept a few, but not enough, hours, then I woke up, played and snuggled with the cats (what else is there to do at 2 am?) and went to bed an hour later to give sleep one more shot. When another hour later I finally felt I was drifting off, I could feel something under my fingers. A bead! I blame it on my weary mind that I was convinced the world was doomed if I didn't hold on to this bead. We are not talking a one carat diamond here, we are talking a tiny glass bead. So I held it between two fingers and fell asleep. After a weird dream and about 25 minutes later I was woken up again and imagine my still dizzy brain's joy when I found I was still holding the holy bead!

I sat up and gathered my senses to have a look.

Guess what! It was a crumb from the cat kibbles!!!

Quote of the week

2011-08-28T12:55:00.000+02:00

Today's quote is from an utterly romantic and magic movie ... sounds cheesy? Maybe, but it isn't. This movie has it all, a fairy tale script (without a happy ending which actually wouldn't have worked), a beautiful city, a bit of action, gelato and some wonderful actors.

The stars are Gregory Peck (they don't make men like that anymore) and Audrey Hepburn (in her first big Hollywood movie) and we are in Bella Rom.

Hepburn is Princess Ann who is travelling through Europe's capitals. She's tired of her duties and just once she wants to be able to do whatever she feels like. She escapes into town, but being under influence of a sedative she falls asleep on a bench where she is found by Peck as Joe Bradley - a newspaper reporter. He takes her home with him, not knowing she's a princess, but he's soon to find out ...

Princess Ann (when entering Joe's apartment in her drowsy state): Is this the elevator?

Joe Bradley: It's my ROOM!

Roman Holiday, USA, 1953

Hope, cats and cuffs

2011-08-26T21:41:00.000+02:00

I'm sitting here and there's a cool breeze coming through the windows. It feels so good! I have a little hope now that I'll survive after all. I'm not so sure about my brain, though. Those brain cells just melted away over the last days. Even the cats were knocked out by the hot weather. I have two pictures to prove it and believe me, the others weren't better off.

There is NO picture of me being sprawled all over the bed like a dead octopus. I don't want to scare you away.

My poor girl Esme - mowed down by a heat wave in the prime of her life

Smart move, Ponder, to rest your head on a warm laptop during that heat

It's a good thing Mabel's brain cells are as good as ever (what a show-off). I'll just show you two cuffs that she made me create recently. She was no help however in cataloging my books, blogging (!) or editing pictures of my vacation (and blogging about that as well). Yup, Mabel has a very one-sided mind. And she refuses to cook - which is actually a good thing now, but not so good at lower temperatures.

With a beautiful lampwork bead by Pink Beach Studios - it's for my Mom

Against the light, so you can see the pattern better - the edging is made from tiny red carnelian beads

Cuff of Modern Art - for myself. Somehow it makes me think of lots of framed pictures

P.S. Don't think all I do is bead looming now. I just can't take too many pictures at once. Our command center (aka computer room) and my photo setup are under the roof ... hot, hot ... and I can't stand that for long, remember

Quote of the week

2011-08-21T09:00:00.001+02:00

Let's try something new today (might not be last time). We all know that the score is just as important for a movie as are the actors and their lines, sometimes even more important.

We have our favorite songs and maybe don't even know they are from a movie.

I love this movie, I love the book, but I loved the song by Art Garfunkel first. And I have to admit I still get tears in my ears watching, ready, listening ... for different reasons.

I hope you'll enjoy as much as me.

Watership Down, UK, 1978

P.S. Blackie, you were a great Mom.

For myself

2011-08-20T18:42:00.000+02:00

Today I should have ... and then I really should have ... however only after I should have ... and also I could have ... but you know what? I didn't. None of it.

It's so hot today and it's my last weekend. On Earth if it stays that hot. My spaceship is booked already. Yeah, I wish. No, it's the last weekend before it's back work. The least I could do for myself is to have some fun.

This is the result. Francie has a new bead loomed bag. If you know me on other sites, forums etc., you'll start getting annoyed by seeing it, but I can't help it, it was fun and I need to share, so bear with me, please.

Incredible!

2011-08-17T23:59:00.000+02:00

I actually managed to list something. Hard to believe? Not just for you!

You probably think I enjoy the last days of my vacation, hanging around in the sun, sipping drinks, flirting with goodlooking guys - wrong. I'm just flirting with my laptop, tweaking pictures and descriptions. I think it's taking so long because I'm becoming a little ocd about it, but oh well, I'm making progress and better times will come eventually.

Right now I'm neglecting everything, sorry to everyone who gets hit by that.

So here's my latest listing, Ring of Mist, made from fine silver wire, another stunning lampwork bead by Deronda Designs and tiny smoky quartz beads.

Quote of the week

2011-08-14T11:29:00.000+02:00

After almost a whole week of vacation in Cambridge I feel England-inspired which is why I chose following quote today that I really like.

I won't add much else to it because my laundry is still piling up, we only came back last night. You won't mind a quick post, will you? Let me just say younger siblings will probably understand what Michael is going through ;-)

George Llewelyn Davies (as Prince George, to J.M. Barrie): This is Jack. Second in line to the throne. And that one's Michael. He's only five.

Michael Llewelyn Davies: And I'm in prison for it.

Finding Neverland, USA/UK, 2004

Quote of the week

2011-08-07T09:00:00.001+02:00

If you like beautiful scenery, fine English humor (and Burt Lancaster ;-)), you should not miss this movie. A big oil magnate sends one of his people from the US over to Scotland to buy an entire village, so he can build a refinery there. Things do not quite go the way they are planned.

I chose following scene (maybe because old malt whisky sounds appealing right now) - Urquhart, the village's hotel owner and accountant offers MacIntyre (sent to Scotland by oil magnate Happer because of his Scottish name although he is actually of Hungarian descent) a drink.

Urquhart: I want you to try something. This is the MacGaskell. A pure malt whisky. 42 years old.

MacIntyre: Old enough to be out of its own.

Then he tells MacIntyre that they have to talk - about money ...

Local Hero, UK, 1983

Vacation time

2011-08-06T19:16:00.001+02:00

Yeah, well, that's no one I know, but the picture could give you a hint of where I'll disappear to for a week.

You need more? This guy is "punting along the Cam in academic dress after a graduation ceremony" as it says in Wikimedia. Right. I'm going to Cambridge. I guess not even on my vacation I can live without a university *eyeroll*

Now I could say I didn't blog much to get you used to no posts for a week, but it wouldn't be true. True is that there won't be any posts, but I hope I can take a lot of pictures and learn exciting new things to share with you once I'm back.

See you then!

P.S. Don't worry, the kitties won't be alone, they are cared for in the best possible way! ;-)

Cats and beads

2011-08-04T15:22:00.000+02:00

No, this is not a post about cats helping me to make bead soup. They are good bead soup cooks, that's true, but this post is about Denis and Kirsten. They are no cats, but they are both artists.

Denis made my shop logo for me - thanks again! - and Kirsten ... wait, let me show the logo first. Here you go.

The other day I stumbled upon Kirsten's - aka Quernus Crafts - work (have a look at her Flickr gallery) and when I saw her "Wee Cats" album, the idea jumped me from behind and didn't let go until I had written to her about a custom order.

She transferred the cat, now named Denis, into a polymer clay sculpture and she did such a great job at it!

Her work is full of whimsy, let me just mention the mouse beautician or the mouse family with baby sleeping on Dad's chest or the kitties or the police mole or the adorable snails - there's so much more, you have to look for yourself.

Kirsten's work can be found at her different shops, click here to find out where.

That was the cats part, now let's get to the beads part.

I have something to confess - after years of resistance, yes, even laughing openly in the face of those who wanted to convert me, they finally got me. I'm not sure anymore how it happened, but suddenly I stood at the customs office staring at a beading loom together with a customs officer, both of us trying to figure out how, what, where and why.

I guess I figured out at least part of it as following pictures show.

Thank you to E³ or EEE. If you read this, you'll know who you are. For those who don't know, that's her.

And here's the result. I'm afraid there will be more to come. Those people are evil *whispering* Once you are in their net ...........

My cat Ponder when he was still a young'un, pattern by the Evil Enabler Erin Simonetti

My first own pattern