2/27/2011

Quote of the week

Let's go way back in time once again, to the 60s. Black and white TV, three channels, NOT around the clock. Saturdays and Sundays were special and one of our favorites was a British TV series.
We always sang along (the German version of course) and to this day I haven't forgotten the lyrics of the first verse.
I am talking about Robin Hood, the Robin of my childhood, with Richard Greene.


"Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men,
feared by the bad, loved by the good,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood."

Did you sing along, too?


P.S. I just ordered the DVD box .... it was so cheap, really, I just couldn't resist!
And yes, old-fashioned dinosaur that I am, I adore Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, but I think I knew this one before him, ok?

2/20/2011

Quote of the week

Today I'll talk about a movie which has accompanied me since my childhood and still makes me laugh about it just as much today as it made me then.

Now - who does not know this quote?


Hawkins: I've got it! I've got it! The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true! Right?
Griselda: Right. But there's been a change: they broke the chalice from the palace! 
Hawkins: They *broke* the chalice from the palace?
Griselda: And replaced it with a flagon.
Hawkins: A flagon...?
Griselda: With the figure of a dragon. 
Hawkins: Flagon with a dragon. 
Griselda: Right. 
Hawkins: But did you put the pellet with the poison in the vessel with the pestle? 
Griselda: No! The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon! The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true! 
Hawkins: The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon; the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true. 
Griselda: Just remember that.

If you don't know the quote, but love old movies, go and get yourself this one. It's hilarious!
And I really like Danny Kaye :-D

2/17/2011

Got chocolate?

I have been bitten by the needle lace bug, no doubt. And even if you might think, this is getting boring, it's another shell I caught in my net.
The difference is this shell is made from polymer clay and it was not planned. In fact I was working on a clay idea. The first attempt turned out a little too big, so I went for a second one. Suddenly I was hit by a wave of impatience. I grabbed the clay in sight and mixed it all up, then just as suddenly I pressed it on the shell in front of me (now you know the other project incorporates a shell, but that's all I'm telling you in case it doesn't work out ;-)). Carefully I turned my clay to get the pattern on the right side and cut it to the right shape.
I don't know about you, but it definitely reminded me of those chocolate shells ... cravings welled up inside of me. The only chance to take my mind off chocolate was to start netting, so that is what I did. The pink freshwater pearls fit the colors of the shell perfectly.
This month's challenge of the Polymer Clay Smooshers is "Nature". I guess I got my first entry :-) It's listed in my ArtFire studio now.

Guiltfree chocolate necklace

2/15/2011

Life

Today I started reading the book by Jean Shepherd called "In God we trust: all others pay cash". Not being American I didn't know him being a radio personality, but I know the movie "A Christmas story" which includes some of his childhood adventures.
I'm at page 60 now and already cracked up laughing, but he also made me think with a few of the things he said. When does the point in life come which decides about which road you will take - to become one of the big guys and girls who have the say or one of the "others".
And frankly, which road do I want to be on? Success, admiration, money, celebrity status, those are nice things, but are they the only things of which life is made up?
Is life just about being one of the biggies? I hope not because there are so much other fun things.

Looking at the sun coming out again after a long period of rain or snow for example.

Silver, blue and gold medaillon pendant by Phoenix Art Studio
Sitting down, reading a book and stroking the cat.

Sassy cat brooch ooak by Blue Jane Art
Have a picknick underneath a tree and hear the leaves rustle in the wind.

Silver tree of life earrings by Emily Claire Creations
Take a second to smell the roses.

Rose garden with swallowtail butterflies barrette by Gingerbell's Gifts

I'm not saying life is or should be all about fun. I'm just saying we are forgetting the little things all too easily ...

All featured items are made by talented members of the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild on ArtFire.

2/14/2011

There's music in the air

And if there is none, let's make some ourselves.
We'll start with the clef. Actually I had so much fun with the clef that I needed to make a few. Two of them have travelled elsewhere, but two are left and I want to share them with you.

They are made of a wire crochet tube for which I used a small hook, so the tube is hardly recognizable as one. It couldn't be too big because it doesn't bend that well then and that might have prevented the shaping of the clef.

For the extra twist I added a "musical note", a beautiful labradorite on the first one, a white pearl surrounded by tiny peridot beads on the second.
The first one is already available in my ArtFire studio, the second one might get an oxdizing treatment, I'm still not sure about that.

Fine silver wire crochet clef with labradorite

Fine silver wire crochet clef with pearl and peridots

2/13/2011

Quote of the week



*knock* "Penny." *knock* "Penny". *knock* "Penny."
I think the next time I stand in front of a door, I'll do the same thing. Even if it might get me killed, as annoying as it is.

What I'm referring to? My new hero, Dr. Sheldon Cooper of course!

2/12/2011

Hibernating

Whatever my brain is trying to come up with, my thoughts always go back to hibernating. I can't remember if it always has been that bad or if this year is extreme.
Mind you, it's not as if I didn't have any ideas. I have too many ideas to be able to easily decide on one. Before trying to decide anything, my brain rather shuts down at the moment. And then there is that stack of books still waiting to be read and I really need to organize my stash of beads. I also haven't forgotten about my rejuvenating plans ... not me, sillies, the old WIPs.

Fact is however that I sit down at the computer and - procrastinate. Sometimes I'll even cancel the procrastinating because I'm too tired and need a nap immediately.
Like yesterday. I started working on a little pendant and suddenly, bam, I was asleep. When I woke up, my hand had still clenched the pendant and seed beads were scattered all over my blanket. Yay, that was fun!

I'd also need to take some pictures and edit them. Well, I do take pictures. You want proof? Here you go. Ponder and Esme. Aren't they adorable? And the best thing is I don't need to think up descriptions for them as both of them won't be listed. Nope, they are not going anywhere.




Ah, that is something I did yesterday. I cleaned my desk. You are allowed to applaud. As a matter of fact I expect you to because I'm very proud about it. Don't ask for the reason why I did. The reason is black, has fur and takes up lots of space on my desk. He kept knocking things over and I kept going nuts about it. See, you didn't have to ask. I told you.

I think I really should make a new to-do list. It will help me to get back into the routine. And then there's hope that spring will be back one day and my brain will start to bloom again. Metaphorically speaking. It'll be able to handle my ideas and maybe it will even work together with my hands.
Hope springs eternally.

2/06/2011

Quote of the week


Let's do something a bit different today. It will still be a movie, it will still be a quote, but not from the spoken text.
For this post I chose one of my favorite musicals and I'll take a quote from one of my favorite songs.
The lips already give it away, I guess. I'm talking about The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It wasn't easy to just pick one, but here it is now ...

Let's do the Time Warp again!

So, people, who is ready to dance with me?? You know how it goes, don't you?
It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane,
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Ok, you know where to send the videos of you doing the Time Warp. Gee, I'd love to see!

2/05/2011

A new adventure

Do you know Delia? You mean I haven't told you about her yet? Maybe I should spare you a long speech and send you to her website right away.
I'm a big fan of her work, so much that I treated myself to this beautiful piece of hers (come on, click, you know you want to).
We had been talking about tutorials as well and finally I jumped and got two. I printed them out and looked at them lying on my desk for a while. Suddenly came the moment I had to try. The first pendant is not finished as I haven't decided on a chain yet, but these three are.

Meet my newest addiction - netting.


I'm afraid this is going to keep me busy for a while.

2/02/2011

I'm miffed

I had plans. Plans that involved sitting on a chair for example, for longer than five minutes. I'm off work for a few days and I was looking forward to it.
Instead these (and my bed) are my best friends at the moment.

Sometimes life is just not fair.