Crafts – Memory Wire Bracelet

Memory Wire Bracelet

It’s been awhile since I’ve created anything with beads. Tonight, I wanted something crafty to do while watching The Wizard of Oz. One movie and one project have been completed.

Portrait of Michelangelo Recently Discovered

The artist is believed to be the horseman in the blue turban.

You can read more about this amazing discovery in Michelangelo’s fresco The Crucifixion of St Peter at TimesOnline.

Found Poetry – Versifying the Vanilla

Versifying the Vanilla

Turning the mundane into something interesting is easy when you reframe words, phrases, and whole passages from other sources.

This found poem reads as follows:

I am talking about
chains          of gold
chains all the same
interrupted          comfort and calm
to lose          us
unity
not seeing          without any sense
this is almost incomprehensible
this fabric
It’s so difficult
a need of you.

Source:
The Shack, ISBN: 978-0-9647292-3-0
Publisher: Windblown Media; 1st edition (July 1, 2008)
Page 124

Related Posts:
Poetry – Senryu
Writing a List Poem
Writing Cinquains – Five Line Poems

Knitting Gone Crazy

I have a warped sense of humor so I really get a kick out this stuff. See more knitted items for psychos. It’s weird, but knitting wizardry is evident.

Gone Today – The Pop King and the Pin-Up Girl

The Writing Process – It’s Excrutiating!

I read this amusing article today about one writer’s writing process. His process is not unlike mine in that it happens whether or not I’m in front of a computer, and it is interrupted by all sorts of mundane activities; however, Mr. Lennon failed to mention that this inattention to physical writing has a lot to do with the pain of it.

Oh, it’s not so bad once you’ve struck a bit of gold, but mostly it’s like having poison ivy without the soothing calm of calamine lotion. Doing laundry, cleaning closets, taking out the garbage, eating, smoking, biting one’s fingernails, calling all those near and dear and some who aren’t, removing cat hair from sofa cushions, eating again, … ad infinitum… are all ways to diminish the pain of turning a blank document into one  filled with compelling verbiage. It’s damn hard. One paragraph can take all day, especially if you’re a writer-editor like me. I write two sentences and then edit. I’m amazed whenever I complete anything. Heck, this little blog post is going through my write-edit-write-edit process, and so far I’ve spent 30 minutes on it. Crazy! Imagine the time it takes for me to draft a research paper. I shiver when I think of it. I know somewhere in me there is a doctoral dissertation, but I don’t think I could manage the extra weight I’d gain from taking all of the necessary breaks; however, I imagine my house would be very, very clean.

Knitting – Felted Awnings Purse

Felted wool feels amazing!

I love the way this little purse (approximate finished size = 8x 6 inches) feels. It’s so much more appealing in actuality than in the photograph. Darn!

I knitted this piece with Lion Wool Yarn and then felted it. The flower is crocheted and felted and  adorned with seed beads. The button is made from bone.

I don’t know if I’m quite finished. I may add a felted wrist strap. Just maybe.

The basic pattern for this awnings purse can also be found on the Lion Brand website.

Crochet – Refurbished Purse and Rose Embellishment

What was "old" is now NEW!

I purchased this handmade purse at a resale store for $2.00. I don’t think it had ever been used. The only problem with it was the handle had rough edges and badly needed oil. I saw great potential for it and purchased it.

I sanded the handle and applied several coats of orange oil. Now, it’s as smooth as the back of my hand. I loved the lining in the purse, but I thought the outside could use a splash of color.

I crocheted a rose to which I sewed a pin back. The rose can be removed and used on other things. The pattern for the rose came from The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet. This book is full of easy, creative, and good-looking crochet patterns. I acquired the book at my local library. Browse your library for cool books on crochet, knitting, and crafts. You can also find free patterns for crochet flowers on the web.

The inside of this bag is clean and well-made.

I think this little purse is ready to take out on the town. The problem is I can’t decide whether to keep it or add it to my Christmas gift stash. Hmmm.

Video – Kitten and Baby Deer

My sister-in-law sent me this video. I think you’ll like it as much as I do.

History – Advice from Abraham Lincoln

Wisdom for the ages.

I thought this was worth sharing. [source]

Cat Blogging – Tiny in a Cubby Hole

Supermodel Cat

This is another of Steve’s photos. He’s provided me with some great images of my cats. I have to stop being lazy and get them printed and framed.

It’s all about cat blogging on Fridays at The Modulator.

Gardening – Starting Seeds is Easy!

I used to have difficulty getting anything to grow from seeds. Now, I’m a master.

Recycle containers as seed pots.

Here are my secrets:

• Use recycled plastic containers for your potting soil. My favorite containers are those that once held yogurt. They are the perfect size and it’s easy to transplant from these to larger pots. Stop the soil at about one and half inches from the lip of the container. This allows space for your seedlings.

• Plant 5-8 seeds in each container. Don’t plant them too deep; cover them lightly with soil. Water, but don’t drown your seeds. Next, cover the containers with plastic wrap. If you have rubber bands handy, you can slip a rubber band around the plastic wrap to hold it secure. If you don’t have rubber bands, wrap as tightly as you can. Once you have your plastic wrap in place, write with permanent marker on the wrap the name of the plant you’re trying to grow. When you are ready to remove the wrap, you can write the name on a Popsicle stick and insert it into the container. Keep all of your containers in a tray of some sort. This will keep your growing area tidy. Place the tray in a sunny spot (mine sits in a kitchen window). After 24 hours, you’ll notice that you created mini terrariums (self-contained atmospheres). Water gathers on the inside of the plastic wrap and keeps the container environment moist. Some seeds will sprout in as little as two days, others will need a bit more time.

Transplant seedlings to pots outdoors to season.

• After seedlings are evident and pushing against the plastic, remove the plastic. Don’t forget your Popsicle stick. Allow your seedlings to mature. Once you think the small plants are hearty enough for the outdoors, transplant them to larger pots. This step is necessary to “season” your plants.

Transplant seasoned plants to the ground.

You’ll know when the plants are ready to move to the ground. If you’ve ever purchased plants from a nursery, you know the approximate size of a starter plant.

• Once your plant is in the ground, be sure to water it and watch it carefully over the next few weeks. New plants need extra attention.

Small seeds make big plants. Amazing!

• Before you know it, you’ll have hearty and healthy plants. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing something in your garden that you started from seed. Nature is amazing. Every time I consider a big plant, once a seed the size of a pinhead, I’m awestruck!

Good luck out there. Let me know of your success if you have a moment.

Related post: Build your own compost bin.

Film Review – The Gathering Storm

I remember seeing the TV ads in 2002 for The Gathering Storm and thinking it looked compelling; however, I did not have HBO at the time. The film had been in my Netflix queue for ages until I recently moved it to the top, desiring something besides the reality garbage doled out nightly on network and cable TV. Really, why does anyone give a flip about Jon and Kate Gosselin?

I was not disappointed in this film! It’s terrific. It is a two-pronged love story. Winston Churchill (Albert Finney) had two loves, that for his country and that for his wife. He loved his country beyond patriotism, and he had truly deep affection for his wife, Clementine (Vanessa Redgrave). While Mr. Churchill was wrong about some things (e.g., India’s quest for independence), his notions about Hitler’s thirst for power and world domination were right on track. This point was made clear in the film. Thankfully for us, Churchill and key others were paying attention to Germany’s rearmament. Some even took great risks to bring the truth to light – Ralph Wigram (Linus Roache).

Churchill came to his realization about Hitler when his own career was waning. At age sixty he was no longer viewed as an astute politician and keen orator. He was plagued by depression (coined “the black dog”), and his family stood on the brink of financial ruin. Much of his money had been lost in the stock market crash. Additionally, the political establishment were reluctant to make any decisions that might lead to another Great War. It also didn’t help that there were government contracts which supplied aircraft parts to Germany. (Often we’re our own worst enemies!) Despite all of these obstacles, Churchill persevered and was finally able to convince his peers and the nation of the danger Hitler and his Nazi party posed. He was a man possessed by the idea that it was his destiny to lead his country out of chaos.

At a point of intrigue in the film, “Clemmie” leaves Winston and their brood for a trip abroad. She is accompanied by an attractive bachelor whom Winston is certain has stolen his wife’s affection. Jealousy is yet another demon to plague the man.

I can’t speak highly enough of the cast. Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave were magnificent. I felt like a voyeur of the Churchill’s lives. Only great acting can give you a true sense of reality. The supporting cast are all sublime actors. The director, Richard Longcraine, captured the drama of Britian’s politics, and his actors skillfully projected the frustration, fear, and courage it took to win a battle for hearts and minds. The chemistry between Finney and Redgrave was believable. Their tender moments tugged at the heart.

This is one drama you should see, especially if you appreciate this momentous period in history and the work of accomplished actors.

Cat Video – More from Paul Klusman

Paul Klusman has done it again – put together another entertaining cat video.

See the first in the series here.

Knitting – 10 Things I’ve Learned

Often one has to deconstruct.

• Fixing a mistake that I’ve crocheted is easier to fix than one I’ve knitted.
• Perseverance is required. Some projects are determined to kill you, but diligence pays off. Practice does make perfect.
• Scissors are never handy.
• It’s no myth that cats like yarn.
• It’s a great way to keep from biting your fingernails.
• Watching an interesting television program while knitting a complicated project is never really a good idea.
• Knitting experts can often give bad advice.
• Yarn addiction is a real possibility.
• It’s always good to have more than one project in the works. At the very minimum, I have a project to crochet and one to knit.
• While knitting can help you reach a zen-like enlightenment, it can also make you swear and burn with rage. Damn needles! Damn yarn! Idiot knitter!

Crafts – Create a Posy Brooch

A few years ago, my sister-in-law created similar brooches as gifts for the ladies in the family. The two posies I selected from her stash have since frayed at the edges. I wore them out. Since, I loved wearing them so much, because they brightened up my casual jackets, I’ve decided to create a new collection. It’s so easy!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• silk flowers – what can you recycle from old bouquets? You can also purchase something new.
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• jewelry pin backs
• really good scissors to cut through plastic and in some cases wire

In no time at all you’ll have something great to wear.

Make a statement with a pretty silk flower brooch!

(1) Remove the flower from the stem. In some cases, you can just slip it off of the stem. In other cases, you might have to cut it off. The flower should remain together after removing it from the stem (if manufactured correctly).

(2) Remove a set of leaves from the stem. Clip each leaf away from the plastic stem. Turn the flower over.

(3) Glue the leaves to the back of the flower. Make sure you have the right side facing forward. Also, you want the leaves to poke out from the edge a little. You want to see them when you turn the flower over.

Step 2

Step 3

A pretty posy brooch dresses up a jacket.

(4) Glue the pin back to the flower. Pay attention to how the pin notch works – you’ll want to position the pin correctly so that it’s easy to pin your brooch onto a jacket, purse, shirt, dress, etc.

Cat Blogging – Golly in a Tree

Golly Descends

This is Golly, one of my boy cats. He’s kind of a goof. He’s a Lennie (Read Of Mice and Men and you’ll know what I mean.).

Steve Gaudin took this picture for me. Steve is the papa of my very beautiful son, and he’s also a very good photographer.

Friday is all about cat blogging, if you didn’t know. You can join the carnival too at The Modulator.

Tuesday Five – 5 Clever and Imaginative Crafts Projects

This is such a pretty bouquet!

• Coffee Filter Rose Bouquet – pretty enough for a bride.
• Fabric Origami – very cool!
• The Mother Bear Project – put your knitting skills to very good use!
• Watermelon Soap – can’t you just smell the deliciousness of it?
• Toilet Paper Scarf – it’s not what you think. Get those knitting needles ready.