Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Illustration Friday: Tales and Legends

For Illustration Friday's topic "Tales and Legends" I give you Rip Van Winkle. Since Sleep (yes, that's sleep with a capital 'S') is the hot topic in our house, Rip's champion napping ability is something I envy. Of course I wouldn't want to miss out on 20 years of my life right now, but a few hour nap sounds mighty good. If you've forgotten the tale of Mr. Van Winkle, you can read it here.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Illustration Friday: Stitch


Here's another last minute post for Illustration Friday. The theme this week is "Stitch". Of course, I cannot think of stitching without thinking about sewing...something I really enjoy and wish I could do more of. Of course time is an issue for me right now, but there is something else which also keeps me from stitching up a storm. That thing, my friends, is a total and complete lack of great fabric stores. I live in a big city, a metropolis if you will, and I'm shocked about this. It is kind of a running joke between me and my pals. One of us will discover a new fabric store and venture inside with big hopes, only to be gravely disappointed. We don't want much, just some nice basic fabric, stuff that isn't ugly or so expensive you're afraid to come near it with your Fiskars. Also, we want a store that just sells fabric! Not a teeny bit of fabric plus craft supplies, fake flowers, gardening tools, rubber stamps, yarn and home decor. A kind, knowledgeable staff would be nice too. So, since I still haven't found my fantasy fabric store, I thought I'd just make one up!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Illustration Friday: 100%



At the very last minute...something for Illustration Friday. The topic this week was "100%". Here is an ode to a food I'm 100% crazy for: Sauerkraut. Yes, just another thing that makes me seem closer to 85 than 35 (along with my enjoyment of Lawrence Welk reruns, prunes, trying to revive the relish tray at dinner parties, and watching Masterpiece Theatre). I was reminded of my love for this pickled dish yesterday when I went out to lunch with my pal A, and we both ordered Ruben sandwiches piled high with deliciously sour, crunchy Sauerkraut. I first tasted the stuff in 8th grade atop a pizza at our local pizza restaurant. It was after an Olympics of The Mind (geeky..yes) competition and there was a guy who ordered it on his pizza and dared anyone to try it. I took him up on his dare and much to his dismay I loved it and he had less pizza to eat that night! Since then I've loved it atop bratwurst, in mashed spuds, and of course on a Ruben.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Photo Friday: Passage of Time


Here is a photo I took a few years go of an old bottle rack and its shadow in the cellar of an old, old house in France. The house is actually much older than the 1943 sign plastered into the wall, but it is interesting to think of all the time that has passed in this house, how many bottles of wine imbibed, and stories told within its thick stone walls.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Illustration Friday: Soar



Yay! I made something for this week's Illustration Friday topic: Soar. Originally the Waldorf Sisters were going to be flying trapeze artists, but then my former boss sent me this clip of Carol Channing in Throughly Modern Millie, and I was reminded also of the scene where dear Carol is shot through the air by a big ole cannon shouting "Raaaaassssberriesssss". I have been cracking up about it all week, so the Waldorf Sisters got the cannon. I've also been playing around with a book I got called Crumble Crackle Burn by Von Glitschka. It ROCKS my world. Hope your 2008 is Raaasssssbeerries, my dears!