Sentense.me

Sentense.me. "From Monday to Friday for all of we hard working people I have some motivating sentences which can maybe help you in making right decisions in these hot times. Which helps in Life, maybe in Love and brings a lot of daily Happiness. One per day." I love it.

Turning leaves

My new desktop/calendar is on Smashing Magazine's October 2010 Wallpaper. Woo hoo. Go get yourself one. I really love "Colourful autumn leaves" designed by Anna-Lena Lewerenz, "Halloween" designed by Violeta Dabija from Moldova, "Jack O Cal" designed by Lindsey Kellis.

Vases match the flowers

Found the most wonderful hand thrown vases (again) at the thrift store. And some tin buckets. One long red one that I thought would be wonderful with green grass for the holidays. One adorable red, white and green pot (99 cents, never used) that I thought would make the perfect holder for Christmas cookies? Can't you see that?



A large platter that looks like shark skin. And those hand-thrown bowls below!







Blue vase matches hydrangeas



And I admit it, I bought 4 more Celadon plates. (But don't tell D!)

Rebranding Cost

8 Famous Brands and their Rebranding Cost! Via Tariq Design.

In the cards

I think I have mentioned that I collect playing cards. I dream of designing my own. I have the ideas. But when I run across them on the internet, I can't help but stop and window shop!

Cards designed by Thomas Crehore, below.



Playing-card Societies, a great resource.

Discount playing cards at CarnivalSource.com, really fun ones like Bandage-Shaped Playing Cards. Know any card-playing person in the medical profession that needs a fun gift?

You can get lost in this site, Custom 52, a place where artist design Playing Cards, I especially like, “The King Of Life” Adrian Garcia. The Soviet Mayan Playing Cards. These fabulous 1880 Nursery Rhyme Playing Cards.

Interesting history of Playing Card Design at The World of Playing Cards.

Yes, I need these 2008 Playing card deck by P22 type foundry. Joy for the eyes.

Antique Mirror

Did you see this on Apartment Therapy DC? How To Create an Antique Mirror Effect. I have been thinking of doing something with a couple of BIG mirrors I have, need to get rid of .... Also found this Weddingbee PRO, DIY Etched Mirrors. Yeah, add that to my list of 'want to dos'.

Titillating textiles

Carolyn Saxby's tutorial for leaves from fabric scraps via the very elegant, Mothtales. Inspires me to want to start the moth/butterfly wall hanging. Remember those? Also check out Edible Whisper beautiful Tumblr.

Nature

Nature had a wonderful program on Cuba, The Accidental Eden. These little tree snails might become a necklace, therefore extinct because of us? I don't get that.

And speaking of something I have never gotten my head around --- is why we want to buy dead, dried seahorses. I have seen the for sale in all kinds of places and it makes me sick to my stomach every time! I took a Ice Resin class at Ben Franklin's with a friend yesterday. And there, for all of us to purchase were packaged dead seahorses. When I asked if they were resin reproductions, we found out they were not. I have never understood why we want to buy one delicate seahorse to take home and save in our collection of crap or make into jewelry. If we just refuse to buy them, maybe, no one would go kill them for such purposes. Just think about that. Please. Sorry, I seem to be on my soap box today.

Natural elements

See those little bottles or rock vases do come in handy when decorating natural elements.

From the beginning of fall until the New Year I get giddy. No really, delighted. Cold weather, the thought of carving pumpkins. Setting a Thanksgiving table and dining with friends. Christmas tree decorating and glowing fire in the fireplace.

Roasted tomatoes

Mom is going to oven roast some tomatoes. Yummy.

What about ... the truth, the facts, moderation

This editorial piece,"What about the rest of us? by syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. Editorials is really worth reading. I really like to keep my politics to myself, but I am just getting so disgusted with misrepresentation that I see everyday, all around me.

With elections around the corner, I am all ready sick of the campaign attack ads. I think this animated political cartoon, says it all for me.



I received one of those forwarded ... forwarded ... emails are forwarded and it seems no one stops to ever investigate if there is a shred of truth in them. It becomes a smear campaign of fear with no foundation and they make it into many peoples email box! I makes my head explode in anger! It addresses every Muslin as a terrorist, which just is not true. It ignores this country's constitutional right of Freedom of Religion. 

Below, in red is the original email:

"Apparently they think that putting hearts and butterflies on the new stamp will
make most people not realize that the rest is Arabic and probably not something we want to support.

New Stamp - the second one!!!
This image is a larger version of the Eid Custom Postage product.
USPS New 44-Cent Stamp Celebrates a Muslim holiday.
If there is only ONE thing you forward today... let it be this!

President Obama has directed the United States Postal Service to REMEMBER and HONOR the EID MUSLIM holiday season with a new commemorative 44-Cent First Class Holiday Postage Stamp.

REMEMBER to adamantly & vocally BOYCOTT this stamp, when you are purchasing your stamps at the post office.

All you have to say is "No thank you, I do not want that Muslim Stamp on my letters!"

To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors.
 
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of Pan Am Flight 103!

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993!

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine Barracks in Lebanon !

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Military Barracks in Saudi Arabia !

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa !

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE!

REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on 9/11/2001 !

REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM attacks!

Pass this along to every Patriotic American that you know and get the word out!
Honor the United States of America !"

MY RESPONSE:
No one can adamantly or vocally boycott this stamp when purchasing stamps at the post office. It's not for sale at the post office. The U.S. Postal service never issued this stamp and has nothing to do with it.
Zazzle, the website that is selling this stamp, is a privately held company where ANYONE can design and make their own postage stamps. You can put your child's photo on a stamp and sell it!

And btw --- Obama is not a Muslim.  Can you please correct whomever sent you this mail.

The US postal service sells their stamps online and you all can see for yourselves that this one is not included. My mom bought this stamp many years ago because she was proud we were acknowledging many religions. The stamp recognizing EID, a three-day Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. This stamp was issued in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, -- ALL FOUR TIME THIS STAMP WAS ISSUED UNDER GEORGE BUSH, another obvious Muslim.

Origami

I ran across professional origami artist Joseph Wu Origami's Photostream on Flickr. Lots of great stuff!





I love this Modular Sonobe Origami Ball by herConfederate.

Hello art studio

Hello, art studio. Remember your ole pal, Kim? It has been a long time but you know I have been really busy, preoccupied. Those are not good excuses for putting our relationship in jeopardy.  I should be expanding our quality time instead of sticking my head in a computer all day. I promise you, I will visit at least once a day!

It only took me 4 years to finally add these little label plates to my drawers. Have wanted to do that since the day I bought them at Target, so many years ago. Cleaned them out, sorted, actually threw away a few things. Which makes me feel better about my fears of being a 'hoarder'. The odd thing was stumbling across my previous work business cards and realizing I didn't need those anymore. It was a small reality check moment and I had a quiet cry with myself.



I LOVE this HOBART Steel 50- Drawer Cabinet. Isn't it perfect? Or this Sealey 36 Drawer Metal Cabinet Storage Box. Okay, maybe those cabinets for for real hoarders, or even worse, "container hoarders" (which I certainly am not!)





Cleaned up my small bottle collection. I need to edit that down. (Little voice in my head saying "hoarder".)



I also started painting the spice rack I bought to display my "sand/dirt" collection. (Be quiet little voice, I am not a hoarder.) I have them in small bottles, I think it will be wonderful. I really forget how good it feels to have a paintbrush in my hand, the smell of paint! Another sweatshirt, succumbed to acrylic paint. A drill, love working in the garage. In short, I had a great day away from my computer.

Please Be Still

I love this post at Please Be Still, lovely blog of illustrator Jen Renninger - An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth by Bruce Mau.

Gugger Petter

I am in awe of Gugger Petter's work and vision. Here is the description of her work:
Newsprint is normally known as a fragile material, but through my manipulation of the paper, which is rolled tightly into tubes and later sealed by varnish, it is transformed into a very strong and solid material. Yet I tend to "see" it as being fluid, since I construct each piece in the same free manner, much as a painter might use his brush. Via Hill Country House.

Yes, look closely, this beautiful image is made from newsprint!

Preserved for canning

On our trip back from Idaho, we bought lots of fruit. Mom has been canning!

Heather Knight

Heather Knight's ceramics are sumptuous like these Crazed Copper Nesting Bowls, also on Etsy. Found via Gun & Garden's The New Faces of Southern Style.

what were the skies like

I love this blog - what were the skies like [reporting on gardens, horticulture, and botany]. Interesting, beautiful images. Thank you, Stephen.

Frills and pearls

Maggie Austin's portfolio of delicious cake creations is making my mouth water. Via SIMPLESONG.

Forget you never

Unforgettable Forget-Me-Not for Photo Friday.

Brainstorming

I have never really done a "look book" before but had an opportunity to conceptualize for office interior (it fell through before it even started) but while I was driving around yesterday, I had three ideas and ran home to write it all down (on photoshop) before I forgot. This is one I put together called "Sunny Spot in the Sun". Green carpet, white walls, colorful chairs, a vertical garden?,  colorful sculpture on the wall, maybe a stencil happy quote. My others were "River and Rocks", "Tree-mendous" Anyway, it was fun, even if it didn't pan out.

So while my life seems uncertain ... my wonderful son is blossoming! He has a job that he really enjoys. Comes home and talks for hours about what in that job. He opened a checking account, alone. Applied for community college, alone. His first day at school was today and he came home, excited and full of promise. Gosh, that makes me feel good and proud. He is such a grounded kid. He has insights into people's character that I amaze me. (He even rises in the morning on his own volition -- AND THAT is a first!)

On a thrift store note -- Mom usually finds herself the perfect pair of pants, or a top for 99 cents. Today, she found me an adorable long, wool, cardigan for 99 cents. A woman told my mom at water aerobics today -- "you arrive looking like an average housewife (before makeup) and go out looking like a movie star". If you knew my mom, you know this is true.

Mom made bread pudding tonight!

Stacking sweetness

If and when I get a regular paycheck again, I would consider making these Iosselliani Silver Asymmetrical Stacking Rings one of my first purchases. ;) Via Emily Schriebl Scott Pinterest.

Anatomy of a Typeface

Typedia's Anatomy of a Typeface, filed under 'learn something new everyday"

Visual feast

Feast your eyes with the work of Rogelio Naranjo found at ephemera assemblyman. I especially like these two.

Men who lack adult supervision

Need a chuckle this morning? Men who lack adult supervision.

Weekly intention

I am going to set a weekly intention every week. ABCcreativity is full of good magic.

Mariah Hourihan

Isn't this stunning? Geronimo by Mariah Hourihan. I think I need a print!

Stamped with love

I love this stamp designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, and Jeanne Greco of New York, New York.

Almost fall

Blue skies, so blue that there is a glow in the air. Yesterday there was a hard rain all morning. Hydrangeas are still blooming and have lots of new growth. The colors are so vivid. The blue so rich. I guess the thought of them turning into their wonderful falls hues is the only reason I am not sad to see the end of flowers in my garden for the year.









I have lots of garden clean-up to be doing. Today I have an interview that is rather making my palms sweat. ;)

Puget Sound Bird Fest

I missed Puget Sound Bird Fest via My Edmonds News. When I have some time, I could volunteer.

Odd Odyssey

My Monday morning routine is to file for unemployment (which I still have not received after 7 weeks and that is a little unnerving) and search for jobs. Well, I search for jobs online every morning. It has become my obsession. And I should not complain, because I have had some very good interviews. A few great leads.

I feel like I in a war, with myself. It dawned on me the end of last week. I feel exhausted from thinking, worrying, staying on the computer for 12+ hours a day. I tell myself I really need to step away and go to the studio for some tactile work. I guess breaking a habit of working at a computer for 8+ hours a day is hard one to break. I thought I would be in my studio long ago but I stay here in the glow and hear of my Mac. Working on skinning Wordpress themes, trying to remember how to illustrate, making a flash ad, designing a logo, applying for jobs, listening to online tutorials, typing out who I want to be in the future. ADHD has erupted in my brain and it is not pretty.

So today, I am going to get organized. Clean up my desk. Visit my studio. Get out my carving tools for my product I have been working on. Get cards ready to put on Etsy. Find the list I made for myself at the beginning of the Odyssey to help keep me on track about what I wanted to do, make, accomplish.

Escaped to Snohomish on Saturday.





Loved this window display with Chairs!

Anxiety rising

I try not to panic until I read stories like this, then I feel a little anxiety rising in my chest.

Things I love today

Green & Stone - Antique Inkwells.

Silkscreen ironing board cover by Lisa Stickley.

The Splendid Table - The Impatient Cook's Granita Primer, heard today driving home after visiting my friend.

Strength Finder 2.0, a book I am looking forward reading and taking the test, suggested by my friend, Bo. Thank you!

Body of Art

Aaron Brothers contest - Body of Art -- could I do something in a couple of days?

The Magazine Antiques

The Magazine Antiques archives of magazine covers.

2011 letterpress calendar

seesaw letterpress — 2011 letterpress calendar. Beautiful.

Inside insides

Inside insides, is like a drug, you can't quit watching these animations.

Clint Fulkerson draws what he sees in nature (seen below) and are amazing, and his blog.



Again, wonderful finds from Data is Nature.

Color a Sound

I discovered the amazing site today of Nathalie Miebach, "is translating weather data collected in cities into musical scores, which are then translated into sculptures as well as being a source for collaboration with musicians. These pieces are not only devices that map meteorological conditions of a specific time and place, but are also functional musical scores to be played by musicians." You must go listen to the music that demonstrates the weather patterns, is amazing!

Color a Sound on Vimeo


Color a Sound from blair neal on Vimeo.

Genesi (trailer)

Genesi (trailer) from Abstract Birds on Vimeo.

All via Data is Nature, an wonderful, delightful respite.

A History of Britain

Mom and I are really enjoying this series on A History of Britain. I know, we are boring! But we love Netflix.

Series of ten

Been messing around with backgrounds and styling today with one of my many blog, Series of ten. I am going to go in my dashboard and see what else I have in there ;)

Lisa Jackson Photography

Working on my sister's blog today, Lisa Jackson Photography, logo and background. Still have some work to do.

Lethally Chocolate

Dodol & Mochi - Where East meets West recipe for  Lethally Chocolate: Chocolate Wassants & Sablés Korova. Don't you think?

crumpled envelope...

Look inside a crumpled envelope... and find wonderful moments of beauty.

Made You Blush

I made a new WA blogger friend today, Aubrey of Made You Blush. The internet is such an amazing place of connection.

Missed Connections

I LOVE this blog, art by Sophie Blackall about Missed Connections. Fun, smart, amazing.

Thank you!

I had a good day yesterday, thanks to Kirsten and Rachel. Thank you both so very much! Today, I am not feeling so great, sore throat. I think too much going, doing, thinking? Missing my seminars, will have to reschedule.

“Something’s Gotta Give”

I have watched “Something’s Gotta Give” just to see the interior of this wonderful home, again and again and again and ...

My mind is all over the place, thought I had blogged this days ago. I think my blog might need to take a back seat while I figure out my career. ;0

“Out of Africa”

Karen Blixen’s House in “Out of Africa” ... swoon! And many more at TV/Movie Houses.

The Meter Stamp Society

Interesting ... The Meter Stamp Society via HI + LOW.

My life in 1×4

My life in 1×4 by Sneak, An unedited string of memories & events.

Google Analytics

I thought this was a weird keyword search I found on my Google Analytics Entrance Keywords: "something to say" blog unemploy".  I mean really, I can only think of a few people who would use those search keywords.

I don't study my stats very often, but Google Analytics is the best!

Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2011

Top 10 Fashion Colors for Women’s fashion chosen by New York designers for spring 2011. And I like them!

Road trip and beyond

Our friend from Texas was here for a few days and we decided to jump in the car for a "quick trip" heading east to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Just for fun. I forgot about open roads, horizons and bug-guts on the windshield.

We stopped by Snoqualmie Falls, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park where we had a breath-taking view of the Columbia River and a horse sculpture that runs atop a big bluff. Then a long stretch of open road to Coeur d'Alene, lots of stopping and eating and trying to figure out what all the crops were growing next to the road. Potatoes, sweet and field corn, alfalfa, sun flowers.

In Coeur d'Alene, found the perfect, affordable old-style, remodeled "Motor Court", Flamingo Motel, with a "motel cat" who loved to come into our room and visit with us. The Motel was in walking distance of the old downtown. More eating. Finally got to visit Cisco, that was an amazing antique store full of expensive stuff I wanted to buy for D. And met artist Steven A. Scroggins at his wild and crazy fine art gallery.

The next day we decided to drive over the Sand Point. I love Sand Point. And if I had taken more than one change of clothes and had had a shower, I would have called a terrific internet friend. But that will have to be on my next visit. When I didn't insist everyone pack lite! We stopped off at lots of roadside Flea Markets where I had an absolute blast visiting and getting to know the sellers. Pouring over rusty, dirty treasures. I found some bottles for Julie's wedding.



I had almost 3 days to empty my brain of job searches and thoughts of resume re-writing. This morning, Ruth to the airport and me back to reality of life. Darn!

Tales from the Microbial Laboratory

I just discovered and fell in love with the blog today while searching Lacepcap Hydrangreas, Tales from the Microbial Laboratory. An Airstream Anniversary - if I only had an Airstream! I would move next door.

Lacecap discovery

Our friend, Ruth is visiting from Texas for a couple of days. She is enjoying the cooler weather. We were looking at the hydrangeas this afternoon and discovered an aberration among my Mopheads. It looks like a Lacecap but it might be a Mophead not fully developed. Either way, it is beautiful. A nice piece about Hydrangeas. My "dream job" has been filled internally. ;( There will be something else just as exciting. I just know it!

The Road to Self-Empowerment

The Road to Self-Empowerment, I need that! And other worth-while reading at Survival Insight.

Sweet little pink thing

I have taken multi-tasking to a whole new level.

Biomechanical bug animation

Autofuss - Biomechanical bug animation is a must see! Via boing boing.

Hello. Goodbye, flowers

Flowers are fading fast in my yard. ;(

Typestashes

the Whoa! has created this great poster, Typestashes via Snap! (magazine). Poster available here.

Robin and the Pres

Robin had the privilege of photographing President Obama! Hey, where is my autograph?

Jenny Mccabe

My job search took a turn today and I ended up on Jenny Mccabe's Flickr stream and her MAP MOTHS! I really, really love gathered luna moths.

Edible Paint

Venus Zine: Edible Paint, fun!

Living in the pink

Love this post, living in the pink. Via sfgirlbybay.

The Real Deal on Reality TV

You must read (or watch) The Real Deal on Reality TV that I saw on CBS Sunday Morning. Hysterical. I admit to watching Bridezilla, okay, watching in disgust, more than was mentally healthy for a over-50-year-old. Always asking the same question, "How does anyone marry these women after watching them behave so badly?" Thankfully, I watch it less often. Reality TV is why I am loving Netflix.

dear ada

Thank you, dearest, dear ada.

Lonny Magazine

Lonny Magazine is wonderful. Loved this image of mixing pavement and grass.

Waking up early

Even the dogs look at me at 4am and think, can't you just sleep in today? You can see it, they are annoyed that their heating blanket is getting up. They roam around trying to find another warm place to sleep. And they are not happy.

Woke up early thinking about quilting after Tara came over to go through my fabric stash for some project she is up to. Found quilts I had started and stacks of fabric that I had in mind for a quilt. THAT was the first thing on my to-do-list in my first month of unemployment. So, move over computer my sewing machine is taking over for awhile. Speaking of, I must step away from the computer and very soon. Spending much too much time sitting here, way too much multi-tasking.  I finished my 4th postcard to add to my Bird Series to go up on Etsy.

So back to my quilt search this morning. Of course, Denyse Schmidt and Lisa Call are a great inspirations. It might be small, but I love this modern doll quilts from Enjoy this beautiful day.

This is cool, Ed Pegg's Math Games' Square Packing and downloads for Squaring Squares, Rectangles and Triangles.

The Modern Quilt Guild, maybe I should join up.

Lots of inspiration at the long thread and this beautiful quilt made from City Park by Cherry House Quilts.

Patchwork Quilts at Canadian House & Home and The Company Store's Quilts.

Lichen-laden branches

Have been shooting my little people the last couple of days. This is another one of those beautiful vases I found at the thrift store the other day.

Yum Yum

Yummy Yum Yum via BLDG//WLF.

Canning vegetables And jams

There is only ONE thing I miss about my daily commute and that is NPR. I drove mom to have another Endoscopy and caught this segment on Canning Vegetables And Jams To Preserve Farmer's Market Flavors featuring Cathy Barrow. I wanted to run home and dust off the canning jars! I hope you caught it too!

It's a banner day

I know about branding and consistency. But I really can't help myself when it comes to my banners! I know it is rather jarring when you expect to see something and don't. But it is my little fun I have on this blog. Some of them were just "okay". Some I love.