After a whole year of focusing on client driven work, I've realized that I really need a chance to get back to making art for the sake of just making it. For me, being freely creative is like I really important muscle that I need to exercise regularly. I've come to learn that when it atrophies, it ain't pretty. I get cranky and feel listless, my body even sends me signs that I'm not listening to myself (hello IBS, I hear you) and I am just no fun to be around. So, instead of thinking first and foremost about how I can bring home the creative bacon I've decided to work backwards, by really defining what I want to DO and then see how I can make money doing that. Luckily I have a huge support network around me to make this all happen, and it is pretty exciting. That's about all I can say about it now, so stay tuned!
Off The Hook
My dear friend is having a baby soon. And, I have been asked to be at the birth. This is really exciting for me, and a real honor. I wanted to make something special for the new little bundle and I wanted to exercise my new found love of crochet. Yes, that's right I said it: cro-to-the-chet. Notice: I am officially moving to Geriatric-ville. Bust out the granny panties! I do love how fast crochet is and the number of wacky stitches you can create. Plus, as one of the World's Slowest Knitters, I needed to add to my repertoire. This blanket was crocheted in Red Heart Soft yarn (it had to be machine washable and dry-able). I found the pattern in a book I checked out at the local library.
Food For Thought
In March we traveled to Arizona, oh Arizona how I love you and miss you. I filled myself with delicious tamales from The Tamale Store at every opportunity I was given. One of my life goals is to learn how to make tamales. I also ate some super duper delicious pulled pork tacos. Here is a recipe I plan to try to recreate them.
TV Moment
In the season finale of SNL Will Ferrel and company brought back my favorite sketch of the Lawerence Welk Show. I can't tell you how much I love that they are helping me revisit my childhood in this way. For those of you who don't know, I was forced to watch Welk with my grandparents when ever we saw them on the weekends (which was a lot). In my head I was always wishing something like this would happen.
Picture Pages
I've been drawing again! Each night when my little kiddo goes to bed I've been putting on my headphones and drawing for at least an hour. No questions, no goal, just keep the pen moving. The first few nights it was hard. I felt really rusty and unsure. But now I look forward to this time with my pens and paper, just getting back to what I love to do.
Can't be without
Drawing, my black pen collection, big pieces of paper, sweet iced coffee.
From my camera
Here are a few favorite shots from my trip to Arizona, where it was spring in March and snowing back at my place. I couldn't get enough of it.
In My Ears
Ohhh, it has been a long long time since I have added music to my playlist. A few tunes that I have been groovin' to are: Electric Feel by MGMT, makes me feel like going out dancing, and I like the idea of 'shocking someone like an electric eel'. 'The Way I Are' has been around awhile I know, but it also makes me feel like busting out my dancing shoes. 'This Tornado Loves You' kind of sums up how my last few months have been, and I just love Neko Case's voice and the lyrics of this song. "Reptile" by The Church is a throwback from my high school days, but it still kicks. "Amsterdam" is kind of funky, but I've been missing my second home so this song reminds me of those aimless days I spent wandering the canal streets, riding trams, and eating licorice. "Blue Ridge Mountains" by Fleet Foxes is a song I could listen to over and over, I mean come on! Those voices and the harmony are amazing it is hard for me to pick a favorite song by these guys. And here is another one from Sun Kil Moon "Truckers Atlas".
