2 weeks later

We've been to Chicago and are back. The trip out there was long and the driving was difficult. We had snow to start out. It took 5 hours to drive what would normally be 2 1/2. That was it for the snow though, then the trip was rain. Fran drove and by the end he was wiped out.
Oddly, we got to Chicago earlier than we expected. That turned out to be a good thing and we unloaded the van the day before show set-up. Lucky for us, since the next day was chaotic , everyone trying to move in garden items and not much room to park. It was a mess....
The show was so so, it feels like it's been months, I've sort of forgotten about it......

The best thing about being in Chicago was getting to see my friend Lucy and visiting her studio (at midnight on a long show day but I'm not whining). Check out her work. I love it. Here is an example of another person who was overlooked for the Radical Lace... blah blah blah show.


Fast forward to us driving home... no problems and the weather was great. Remember that snow from the day we left?, well when we got home it was in the high 80's and everything was in bloomI've been back for a week, and we have been spending a lot of time running to the shops and getting the booths looking good. We really need to be making some money.

I've managed to work a little bit. I tried doing these woven things on a little frame loom. Good for the road trips. The idea is to add some growing plant material to this. I don't know, we'll see what happens. It's very in the percolating not articulated stage right now. So as a distraction I've been
Straightening up the studio. Chet's been there helping. (here he is pointing out a knitting machine and hinting that maybe 5 are just a little too many. I , of course, assure him that I need the extras for parts)
Chet is getting better. The thyroid supplements help with his appetite and attitude. He's still a Terrier - loves to growl.

And that concludes this little update..... I have a feeling that I've lost many readers and say thanks to everyone who has stuck around.

Why no posts?

I have been in the middle of an art meltdown, or freak out or ..... I don't know what to call it. It sort of began when I saw the Radical lace.... show, well really it began when people started contacting me and asking why I wasn't in the show. Yesterday I was asked twice. yikes, then there was the feeling of rejection ......

I'm still plugging away in the studio though.... today's wall, these are some giant knots made out of paper, hmmmm, we'll see where this goes. I also have the loom threaded and have been working on some double-cloth things incorporating newspaper.
O.K. I feel a little better just getting that out, thanks everyone for your tolerance.

What can I say about Philadelphia? The visit was very short but it was so great to see Melissa. The trip to the Fabric Workshop contributed a bit to the freak out though. I realized that I was an apprentice there in [ahem] 1980. It was great to see Melissa and I thought I would just pass on the good news - both she and Nina have been awarded Canada Council grants, that should make things a little easier for them in the studio work. oh , one last thing about Philly. There is good food in that city. We basically ate constantly for the 24 hours we were visiting.

The Chet update....
The Vet has been doing a series of blood tests. We are trying to get to the bottom of the seizures, anxiety, and aggression. Well, the tests show that he has hypothyroidism. He's on medication now to correct this imbalance and hopefully things will be improving.


We are also busy getting ready for the garden show in Chicago, it's a big deal and a ton of work. We'll be gone for a week and we're hoping to come home with some extra money.

I'm going to admit it.... part of my meltdown has to do with turning 50 in a month, I didn't think I was effected by that kind of thing, but it has me just evaluating and trying to figure out how to get to the place I want to be.

I'll try to get a post in before leaving for the trip but if that doesn't happen, updates will be in the last week of April.

The only photo from Philadelphia, taken by Fran.
Lamb cakes in the case at Termini's Bakery

Lots of driving

We have been on the road a lot lately.

And I leave for Philadelphia tomorrow, It's a short overnight trip. We'll be gallery hopping and visiting the Fabric Workshop and I hope the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Blogging on my return,

I'd better remember to bring the camera.

Finally Spring

Today is the first day the crocus are blooming. Most of the snow is melted and we have the windows open.

an update

1st a Chet update.

There hasn't been another seizure. The Vet did blood tests and then went away on vacation, so I haven't heard from him. He is suppose to be back tomorrow and call me.
So until then we're assuming that it is a form of epilepsy of unknown origin. Since there was only one seizure and it was fairly short it will probably be a OK with out any type of medication, we'll just have to watch him. The Vet did say that it would be unusual if this developed at his age, so if it is epilepsy the people who gave him up most likely knew about it, that's the vet's suspicion at the moment.

In the rest of my life.....

We're trying to get enough stuff together so we can sell it and make some money. Funny that the hard part is finding the objects that use to be fairly simple.

I have been doing little bits in the studio, but today , gosh..... I'm feeling deflated. or maybe defeated..... There is a fiber alumni show at Cranbrook. Everyone was asked to submit images etc... for a show at the museum and there's a book project connected with it. anyway - long story short, I wasn't picked for the show, they picked 60 out of the 200 who responded.
Now I'm really wondering if I should continuing trying to make stuff.

I'm not going to whine on about this, but it just feels sucky.

Oh, yea, there was a little knitting going on with some crazy novelty yarn from the dollar store.... not anything except a ??????

Chet Models

U.S. readers

Please go here

and send an electronic postcard to Congress demanding immediate action to solve the climate crisis.

A real post from me later today

Ups and Downs

Sunday we went to the Hamptons to spruce up the shop and move some new things in and Fran wanted to go to the beach to take some photos. We get there (the month in both locations has been slow) get the room in order and drive over to the beach. It's our fist time with Chet at beach and it's a warm beautiful day. We walk along, Fran has his Holga out and all of the plastic toys and is working on the new series. I look up and see - how strange is this - someone I know. Any one who has spent time with me will know that I run into people everywhere, In mexico, in the UK, going to a quiet little dinner, it just happens. So there is this someone, and he's with his dog and a friend with a dog and they come over and ask about Chet, Chet doesn't mind the little dog but the friend's dog is a young portuguese water spaniel and a little bit hyper, Chet growls, tries to snap, we say our good byes, I think that the spaniel was also a little bit of a problem so they knew to just walk away, that's good. In the meantime, a woman (uber rich looking blonde hampton's type) comes on to the beach with 3 dachhounds and they are wild, crazy runnning around trying to nip other dogs , Chet decides not to even look at them and they don't come too close just about 10 feet yapping and yapping. all in all a good day at the beach even though it was short (the time on the beach) and three and a half hours from our house. The good part no snow there.

Monday is a day of the studio and just doing work , here's one of the sewn knitted things and the $ store glove.Tuesday is a roller coaster kind of day. Fran is in a mood and you can't tell if you might just say the wrong thing and set him off on a tirade. This can be about anything. money . politics, antiques, who knows. By the end of the day he's calmer and things are ,well, just normal.

We're sitting aroung watching tv it's about 10:30 , Chet is laying on the couch with us near my feet. He crawls up to me, whimpers and then goes totally stiff. I freak out + jump up. He looks dead, his head is tilted and his legs are stretched straight out, I go to the phone and start looking up the emergency animal hospital number, and I start looking around for everything for a rush to the vet's. Some where in there I moved Chet to his bed. While I'm doing all that Chet wakes up, and sits with Fran looking scared. I come in and he attaches himself to my leg. This lasts about 15 minutes.

We have had experience with dogs and seizures, but this one was different not so convulsive more of just a stillness. We go to the Vet today at noon, They say not to worry unless a pattern of seizures develops,

man that was scary, I'll let you know how the appointment goes.

What am I doing?

I have started sewing, obsessively on the knitted images, and I'm leaving pockets unsewn - those I'm stuffing - sort of ragdoll -ish.
I'm not too happy with the work , it has me feeling insane but,
I've decided that I just have to push through even if the work looks like it totally sucks ass.I've managed to cut fingers on both of my hands. That is making it a bit difficult to work on the knitted newspaper, String keeps catching in the cuts and reopening them. So.... I got some weird knitted work gloves at the dollar store and have been trying to wear them while working.

Maybe I am now officially insane.

It's just my opinion ....

I have managed to do some work in the studio this week. I've finished a little of the newspaper knitting and I've been sewing like mad on these knit images.

Today's studio wall
and a very bad/dark photo.

So far I was only in the courthouse for one day of jury duty. I was lucky and didn't get picked for the first trial, and my # hasn't been called for any others this week.

Has anyone been to NYC to see the radical lace & subversive knitting show at the Museum of Art and Design?

Over all I thought the show was a disappointment. I'm not sure if it was the installation or the ambitious/ambiguous agenda of the curator that killed it. I walked away with a very bad feeling about knitting + lace as art and a really terrible feeling about the state of "Fiber Art" in general.
but I have got to say....
There were artists who's work seemed to overcome the limitation of the show.

*link heavy area ahead*

Piper Shepard - is it radical? is it subversive? I don't think so - what it is is good design and an extremely interesting take on the process of cloth making vs. art making.

Sabrina Gschwandtner - What can I say, I love her approach to knitting and the way she keeps broadening the definition. Sabrina, if you read this post I'd love to hear from you with thoughts on the show. You have my email.

Cat Mazza - Everyone who reads my yakkity yak knows that I have nothing but good will towards Cat, I've linked to her since I started the blog. I think her projects at MicroRevolt are radical and subversive. Her work is so accessible, I almost would categorize it as trans formative, both to the genre and to a larger audience.

Anne Wilson - please watch the video excerpt and then explore her site, lots of process going on there.

Yoshiki Hishinuma - I love the industrial applications stretched and manipulated to make us think ... handmade.

So there it is a little bit of my opinion.

Jury Duty Today

I'm hoping to have a post on the latest shows that we saw in NYC this weekend, for now though I've got to get ready for jury duty.

knitting and looking at art

I have been working on the knitted newspaper, All the while Chet stays nearby. Yep, it's true, he is developing separation issues. He gets anxious if we leave, even if it's just to check the mail. We're trying to train him to a crate (lots of "accidents" if he is just left to run around the house if we go). Any body have suggestions to help him get over this anxious state. I'm sure it has something to do with being in a kennel for 3 months so maybe the answer is just time.
Bad photo, i know, but that's him laying next to the newspaper I'm knitting.

....We got into the city on Friday for the Armory Show. I don't really remember specific pieces of work , but the feeling there was very "buzzy" it felt like the place to be. Galleries were selling and all the NY art world seemed to be there. kinda crazy kinda fun.

Being in the art sphere set off a crisis of sorts with me. I developed a terrific headache, and felt pressure pressure pressure to have my work out there. All of this culminated in me sending off some feelers to a couple of galleries. I think it really is time that I do this instead of hiding out here in the woods in my studio making things that never are seen.

I'll keep you all updated. - The headache is gone.

on a knitting break

I just saw this and even though it's been floating around for a while I thought I'd share it
BjorkDiddy.

That's my knitting break.

snow day

A 12 inch tall dog walking on top of 12 inches of snow.

and his own cleared path.

idle day

We do love Chet.
I admit it, I have pulled out the pattern books and maybe I'm considering knitting a doggie sweater.

I have also been trying to get some work going. The studio wall has been changing but creatively I'm feeling so so flat.

I keep forgetting that I wanted to link to this site, Pandora, created by the Music Genome Project. I've been using it to personalized the music I stream. Today I'm listening to Wax Tailor. Now I'm off to get some work done.

Chet has 2 Daddies

I haven't made the new dog sweater, yet.

But Fran and I are fighting over who get's to wear this hat. It says " Chet's Dad"

Dog Blogging

We have a name.

Chet.
There will be more photos.

A day in CT

We went to the shop in Stamford to rearrange and bring in some new stuff.

I had the idea to go to a shelter in West Chester (NY) since it was only 12 miles away.

here's what happened.



Oh, yes it is.
A young Affenpinscher, probably 2 or 3, and so far he seems really well behaved. The shelter people acted like he was a terror, but neither of us have seen it with him yet. Here's the strangest thing about it. They just gave him to us because they were so happy to have people who knew something about the breed and it's temperment. I think mostly they dealt with large breeds (staffordshires, mastiffs, bulldogs) so they just didn't get the small dog.

We are happy. He should be named soon. and there wil be plenty of photos.

Things to do as you get closer to 50

Take clippers and cut off all of your hair.

Freak out because it looks like a bald spot developing.
but wait.... it's just the lighting, really.

Yes, I am still here

Howdy everybody,

oh.... it's been busy. Shows and the shops and loads of travel. I have barely been able to check my mail.

And I've been in full on looking for a dog mode. This week I've traveled to CT and to Long Island to see dogs and so far I haven't found "the one" I want to adopt. I came very close at our local shelter, but I really don't think I should adopt a 7 year old dog. So the dog search continues.

I woke up this morning thinking.... I haven't even seen a knitting needle for weeks. The studio is neglected and now I've got to work on the web site and vacuum the house. got to go.......

for knitting fetishists

chastity and
a sweater.

Gotta love modblog.

Something to entertain you while I'm away for a few days

We have a big show this weekend

All of my time has been doing stuff revolving around getting ready for the show.
Plus the thinking about the Hampton's space. We're going to be moving in to that next week, Friday, I think.

Oh yea, and I've been checking out petfinders.com looking for a dog to adopt. I did find one that I've made an application for we'll see how it goes.

I'm really missing the studio. Little ideas for things are dribbling out, but mostly it all feels like doodles.

whine.........................................................................................................................................................................
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Yep, that's me the whiner.
When I'm not busy whining I'm gazing at my navel.

How I spent my Blogiversary

I was all prepared to do a wonderful Dfilm. I sat down to begin and my mind went blank. A little bit like it is right now. Then Fran asked if I was ready to go to the space in CT, yes, yes, yes, a way to avoid the studio. and off we went to replenish the booth. I took along a little knitting and an html book thinking that I should do something instead of just stare out of the window. But that's what I did stare out of the window for the entire ride (2 hours) and the ride home.

Exciting, isn't it?, my life at the moment.

We did have "dog" discussions on the drive and it looks like we're both ready for a canine to enter our lives again, I immediately began pushing for 2. Here's the deal with that. We're looking for a small to medium sized terrier type female who is spayed. In the past we've had pure bred dogs, now we think a mixed breed would be best, although I wouldn't say no to an Affenpinscher.

Today we'll be running around looking for things to buy for the 2 spaces. That is very good. It means that we're selling so we need more things. Ah, I'm thinking that Mexico may be a possibility this year after all.

Finally it's snowing

I've been playing around with photoshop. Just trying to get some ideas generated. I feel so stuck, I've been in this creative rut

gosh..... I think since we closed the shop. The problem is it takes me soooooo long to adjust to changes.

I'm also still in the slow / readjustment period that follows the holidays. For us It means being busy again, We have 2 spaces rented (one in Connecticut and one in the Hamptons) so we're working on filling them.
O.K. so reading back over this I can see the problem immediately. I spend all of my time thinking about the business (we do need to eat) and it uses a lot of my creative energy.
I still feel like I'm in a rut.

Good things....
Tomorrow it'll be one year since I started the blog. I'm glad that even though I go off course (this post for example) you all still return for a read. Thanks and thanks for all of your comments.

It's January 6th - the temperature outside is 78

I admit to being slightly freaked out today. It actually feels hot out, IN JANUARY, IN THE MOUNTAINS! All of my doors and windows are open. I think I'll go for a bit of a walk. It's freaky though.

To the more mundane.... It's time for Bloggie nominations so go to their site and make your nominations before Jan. 10th. ... pass it on....

Did you know that 4 species of mammal have gone extinct since the year 2000?

oh, sorry I'm babbling. I'm in that "worried about the world" mood.

Thursday in Chelsea

Yesterday I spent the day with Fran and Melissa running around NYC checking out galleries, eating, and shopping. As we were leaving the Sonnabend Gallery someone (who had seen me in the gallery and was waiting for us to come out) came up to me and asked "Aren't you Robert Longo?"

Ha Ha Ha
I was wearing those sunglasses.
I was coming out of an Art Gallery.
Fran thinks I should have agreed and offered to give an autograph for five bucks.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Get an invisible friend. Get your resolution here.

I am around and working in the Studio

Really.

Francis sent me this video.

I'm sort of in love with it.

A longer post later.
I just wanted to let you all know that I did survive New Year's Eve.
I have new work on the studio wall (it's not knitting). No photos, yet.
Tomorrow it's into the city for a visit with Melissa.

No more posts from me until 2007.

Happy New Year everybody!!!

John

Celebration

A gigantic candy cane float arrived on the village green. It was led in by reindeer. Penguins were waving to everyone and tossing candy.

Then the top blew off, everyone looked around no santa but a lot of snow. The count-down for santa started, 10, 9, 8, 7..... BOOM!!! a santa flew threw the air over everyone's heads, shot out of the candy cane,

And then a spot light on a near-by roof, It was Santa, Everyone was cheering,

Merry Christmas.

After lots of talking and hugging and greeting we walked home.
and sat down to a feast.
The end.

Fran stealing a Parmesan Black-Pepper Biscotti. Pretty easy to make.

Gougeres cooling. Easy.

Baking

The pizzelle are finished. I was laughing to myself about the "recipe" that I use. It's a list of ingredients written on a postcard covered in a few years of sticky dough. I can hardly read it, if anyone is feeling adventurous.3 cups flour 1/2 cup more maybe?
1 box confectioner's sugar
6 large eggs
2 sticks melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp anise flavor
1 tsp anise seed
About 6 dozen

So that's what I had to work with.
I do know that I got the recipe over the telephone from my sister. We always called the pizzelle made this way, with the confectioner's sugar, Joe and Terry's recipe. That would mean we have probably had the recipe for over 30 years. Terry died sometime in the 1970's. That's something I love about cooking and food. It is a part of that line between the past and the present, I always think of Terry when I make these even though my memory of her is very faded.

To the making,

I mix together the eggs and the sugar and the melted butter(cooled), then I add the flavorings and the anise seed. I always add an extra tsp of the seeds. I mix that all together and then add the flour. This year I needed to add the extra 1/2 cup I think the eggs were extra large.

Anyway it's that simple. What you end up with is a very soft dough.

you put a teaspoon of the dough for each cookie and press for about 30 seconds. They cool really fast and when they're all cooled I sprinkle them with powdered sugar.
That's the pizzelle story. Oh and yeah it was about 6 dozen.

I'm trying to hold on to

that feeling I have when I am walking through this.....

No pizzelle were made yesterday. It became a day of running errands, and everything seemed to take just a little bit longer.
Today off to Connecticut to set up our new selling space. Then home and I'm hoping the cookies get made on Friday. gotta run...

A quick get away

On monday we had some business in Massachusetts so we decided that we needed a little bit of a break, A place that would relax us, a place that we love. So we went to Provincetown for one night.

The Holiday food binge continued there. With , well, all kinds of seafood. We even brought lobster and oysters home for a little bit of a Provincetown dinner once we got back.
We had heard that there were 2 whales off of the coast last week, but we didn't see them.
We did have a great time walking on the deserted and rainy beach with 50 degree temps in December.

We're home now and the final holiday prep is going into full swing. The shopping for ingredients starts today and I'll be making the pizzelles. Photos of them (I hope) later.

More holiday eating

The Xmas Tree has been decorated.

Just in time for the 2nd holiday dinner.

It was great having Cynthia around to help with the cooking.



A roast chicken and latkes once again, this time made with blue potatoes and parsnips. Oh, and yes we did drink a little bit of wine.



Tonight will be a little break from the week of feasting, while we plan the menu for xmas eve, west coasters welcome. It looks like a fish pie for the main dish. An orange flavored crust with vegetables, swordfish, sultanas, olives, I forget what else .... a little bit of 19th century sicilian cooking. What kind of sides would go with that?

There is still a ton of food shopping to do, oh and We have planned a bit of baking.

Holiday Season

The latkes are cooking and the xmas tree decorating has begun. Later we'll be at Magic Meadow to celebrate the solstice.

This was last weekend

I survived the in-laws visit despite the statement "You Liberals are trying to outlaw Christmas", yep Fran's Dad actually said that. There are tons of reasons why this is funny.... a few

1. he is a UU, Yep, a good old inclusive New England Unitarian Universalist, fighters for gay marriage, in other words a Liberal.

2. We happened to have been subjected to very similar rants while in NJ at My families.... All coming from FOX television.

3.Fran's family never was a big Christmas celebrating clan. They do save this time of year though for the biggest, long simmering fueds/battles.

That was only the tip of the iceberg of last weekend.

I am recovered. I'm ready to have some fun for the holidays...
You all know that with Fran holidays are not his thing. He might even be said to be against them.
I've been mentioning getting a tree and decorating it for about a week, with the response, No , not yet, too early. For a little greenery I made a boxwood wreath yesterday, yes very Mid-Atlantic elite of me.

Now I'm over it and moving on to the next thing which is the Xmas eve dinner.

I happen to love doing this. It all is planned around the big eve celebration in Woodstock.

I invite the group (friends) and you all know who you are. over for cocktails and some nibbles in the late afternoon. It's got to be early because the santa arrival on the village green is at 5:30, so we need a little lift before we head out into the cold to see what transportation Santa will arrive in... Here's someone's story from last year. As you can see it is a very elaborate affair and the entire town is there.

After that we all head to the house and start the feast. I like to loosely base it on the Italian vigili. In other words.... lots of seafood.

So that is where my head it at this morning. hope to update you all soon. with a menu once the planning is done.
There will be something with baccala and .... I'm not quite sure what else yet.

strange pattern ceiling dirt

If you got here by googling the above...

Congratulations on your poetic ability.

Sorry I can't help though, maybe it's mold?

Just when I thought that i would be able to relax and have a little bit of time to myself.... The In-Laws arrive.

A recap

We were in New Jersey to see my Mother and Sister for the holiday. They remain as crazy as ever. Fran thought worse I thought slightly, ever so slightly better. If we had tons of money it would be grey gardens...

So we're there for Fran's birthday, and we all go to Philadelphia to see this amazing show. and we have a great lunch at Delilah's, a place we manage to get to every time we are in Philly. We survive the trip and get home, and it's time to prepare for the arrival of Fran's parents. They come every year at this time. For Fran's birthday and guess what... it's both parents birthdays , too. and we celebrate xmas. So this will be a party weekend.

Some how I have manged to make enough room in my studio, they'll be sleeping here. I might not get to the computer while they have my space. I'll try to sneak away though.

Time for me to have a drink or two. Happy Holiday.

I have given up on editing my posts. I'm just happy that I manage to get something written with a minimal amount of whining.

how I have been spending my time

It seems like I have been spending weeks trying to fit the things from the shop into the new room. This week I think I have nearly finished. Well, finished enough so that people can actually come over and see stuff.


Some how I managed to do all of this while barely able to move because I totally twisted my back and pulled a muscle while unloading from the last Pier show.

All of that is past now. I'm still sore, but my mood has improved ever so slightly.

My next goal is getting the studio into functional shape. I really haven't had the time or been in the mood to even knit a hat. no knitting for 3 weeks. wow.

Somehow I have also gotten it into my head that it's time for us to have a pet. I found a cat online (it's at the local shelter) and then there is one who has been visiting from the neighbors house.... I thought of catnapping him before he's eaten by the coyotes. But then I start to itch. So even though Fran says if I want a cat I should get one, I think maybe I don't really want that itchiness in my life right now.

So.... I started looking at dogs. Everyone who knows me will realize this a big deal. But wait, what if we do go to Mexico for a month or two..... Would we drive down with the dog? I'm so confused. So unless the perfect dog falls into my lap no pet in the near future.

Thanks for putting up with this little yakkity yak post. I'm going to NJ for a couple of days (family visit) and I hope my mood improves.

Happy Thanksgiving

It seems that all of the plans for Thanksgiving in NYC fell apart. Intead we are home and I've cooked / am cooking a crazy amount of food... for 2.

I'm laughing about it.

Tomorrow we're up super early for day 2 of the show set up and then two days of the show. The last one of the fall seaon, hopefully we will get to Mexico in December.
I'm worn out. Hope you all are enjoying yourselves (even those not in the US)

I start to look at the older work when cleaning the studio

I have been feeling uninspired lately. I suppose that is a good thing since I have had so many little tasks to complete. I'm still working on all of that stuff.
Plus we leave Thursday a.m. for the show in NY and then home for 2 days and back for a second show over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving dinner will be at Cynny's apartment. We still need to figure out the menu.
Today since it is feeling cold and damp and rainy I am leaning to a traditional T-day menu. The event is a week away so it all may switch. I haven't forgotten the conversations that I've had with everyone about a non-traditional, based on the food of the Americas type of meal.

If you have arrived here via my favorite Canadian blogger, welcome. Do come back, I'm not always so boring, really.

Because something should be written here

From Strange Little Mama. thanks

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

No.
Explanations.

1. Yourself: loyal
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): detached
3. Your hair: thick
4. Your mother: wacky
5. Your Father: gone
6. Your Favorite Item: soft
7. Your dream last night: oooooh
8. Your Favorite drink: coffee
9. Your Dream Car: none
10. The room you are in: messy
11. Your Ex: who?
12. Your fear: mediocrity
13. What you want to be in 10 years? alive
14. Who you hung out with last night? FRAN
15. What You're Not? rich
16. Muffins: corn
17. One of Your Wish List Items: passap
18. Time: yes
19. The Last Thing You Did: cooked
20. What You Are Wearing: blue
21. Your Favorite Weather: transitional
22. Your Favorite Book: Melville
23. The Last Thing You Ate: dinner
24. Your Life: chaotic
25. Your Mood: calm
26. Your best friend: genius
27. What are you thinking about right now? art
28. Your car: lesbian
29. What are you doing at the moment? answering
30. Your summer: over
31. Your relationship status: long-term
32. What is on your TV? Fran
33. What is the weather like? rain
34. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday

who else will do this?

I am still around

This weekend saw the last of the scarves go. That part of my knitting machine life has gone.



The studio remains a gigantic mess. I have basically been spending my days huddled in the corner photoshopping images for the store website.

I've been knitting hats, too. every night sitting around and knitting a few rows on a group of hats, just fun silly stuff, things I keep forgetting to photograph.

The plan is to get back to the machines after Thanksgiving. (we're busy with shows until then). But when this show mania is past The machine will be set up and the old singer will be buzzing and I'll see what gets made.

So..... thanks to anybody who still might be dropping in here.
I'm still sane (somewhat) and I'm hoping that soon posting will be regular again.

Let's Vote

I'm up early today and I'm ready to vote.

Time for a change.

A quick post on a Monday

Most of the last week has been spent working on the new website for the "shop". I am trying to get the thing updated before all of the fall shows.

That means that I have been taking photos of stuff and working on it in photoshop, blah, blah, blah. In the middle of all of this I decided that I had better get glasses. I had my eyes examined and have a prescription for reading glasses, yes it's official no more cheap drugstore reading glasses for me I will actually have ones that are the correct magnification for each eye.

I've been looking at stuff on the studio wall


There hasn't been much added.

I've also managed to finish a hat. Unusual that I actually have a finished something but here it is....

modeled by Danny, on his last day working on stuff around the house this fall.

Somehow this doesn't sound like an accounting of all of my time since the last post. Still busy and boring.
and yes, my Sims are doing well, thank you for asking.

Somehow I thought that not being in a shop every day would give me time to do my own work and post to the blog.

It doesn't seem to be working out that way. I suppose it is all about adjustment. I've got to figure out a whole new way of being in the world now that I'm not in the shop.

In other words... I have been so, so busy.
It's the kind of busy that if I went into any detail about it you'd just click away to the next read.

Even Halloween was eventfully uneventful.

The meshing of everything into the house continues. ...

The big excitement is that our shed arrives today. That will help to clear a few things out.
I'm still trying to harness the energy in the chaos. It is a particularly wild ride..

Oh ... one other thing. I am back to an old addiction, Yes, everyone who knows me has probably been in fear of the day .....

I'm back on TheSims. Whoa, there goes a couple of hours.

Mess/chaos has its own energy

First off.... I just want to thank everyone who has been sending notes asking how and where I am. I'm not sure where I've been but I'm starting to feel like I am on the way back. Thanks to Tina (who is unfortunately blogless). She made a comment to me that the energy in the mess can be harnessed and used. So that is what I'm going to be trying to do.

I need to get back to the original point of this writing/blog - The studio wall.

Sometimes it isn't what I want it to be but, hey putting it out there is all a part of the process.

So....... Thanks you all for sticking with me. Who knows where this is going.

oh, and p.s. nice haircut.

I have been busy. And what better to do when you're going totally nuts and can't find a moment. A Time Waster.

48 Things You Could Care Less About


1. FIRST NAME? John

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, I just had boring parents.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Probably last week. I think I was talking about a dog.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Liverwurst, I hardly ever eat it.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, but I wonder which one of us would do all of the talking.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Journal, and journals, and many many sketchbooks.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I was just thinking about this the other day ... no.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Barbara's multigrain shredded spoonfuls. ah.... and muesli.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? For some odd reason I rarely wear wear tie shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, and I can lift things too.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Vanilla, really.

14. SHOE SIZE? 10 1/2 now 11 us.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink. Pink. Pink. and sometimes red.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My lack of motivation.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? All of my gay male friends from the late 70's and 80's. It's a very long list.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? NO.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black plants, green striped shirt, green socks.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Spaghetti for dinner.

21. ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? nothing, that's strange.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I keep typing vermillion and then deleting. Why?

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Amber, and the woods.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Thom on his way to Mexico.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes and how they move through a room.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Love her blog.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? coffee a.m./ wine p.m.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? You've got to be kidding.

29. EYE COLOR? green

30. HAT SIZE? ???

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No, reading glasses from the dollar store.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? This could be a novel.... Chinese, not cantonese, or maybe cheese, or for comfort I like a roast chicken. I sometimes obsess about a steak. I love food, sometimes it's a steamed vegetable if it's just picked, or how about something with chilis I love chilis, in hungarian goulash or mexican food, or lets see ...I like to cook Indian food. This Is a question I can't answer.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings, unless they really deserved to die.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter into spring.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? My sweet downfall is maple

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I hope no one.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Same as above.

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? America's First Cuisines - Sophie D. Coe, False Tongues and Sunday Breads - Copeland Marks, Lorain Cooking - the American Stove Company , 1930, and Moby Dick.

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? It is just plain blue.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Weeds that we TIVOed.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Waves.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Stones.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Which is further S.F., or Holland?

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I am a colorist.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? New Jersey , South Jersey

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Found at AmpuTeeHee's blog. Your turn.

I have managed to get a little work done amid all of the chaos here.
The "devil" is closer to the correct color on these machine embroidered things.


The crowded house continues, but hey look I managed to get my computer hooked up and I have a little teeny space where I can work.

The weekend was a whirl with tons of people and a party or 2 a day. All of that craziness because of the film festival.

And I thought the sheep and wool festival was this week. (the billboard in Rhinebeck had the wrong dates) I planned to have added to my stash. But since it isn't until the 21st it looks like I will miss it again this year, we'll be in NYC for a show.

The writing Mojo hasn't been with me lately. So many things to do.

Friday's update

Everyone may have noticed the big gap since my last post. A few little things have been going on.

I'll start with nice things.

Last Friday...

when Fran and I decided to go out for a walk I saw a hen of the woods mushroom and we picked it. I thought it was a hen of the woods but I wasn't sure so we called our friends Tim and Suki, and Danielle and tromped over to their house. And yes it was the very desirable Maitake. I would guess it was about a three pounds. We gave half to T,S,+D, and then I spent the evening making a broth and freezing 2 batches for use later this fall. And I made a sauce to go with scallops for dinner that night. At the last minute Fran freaked out that we were eating some mushroom I picked in the woods that I really didn't know anything about. His loss, it was excellent.

Saturday ...

We began getting emails from the evil landlady (oh, I should back up. She wanted us to be out of the shop by October 1st , we sent her a letter saying that we would be staying until the 10th.)
Anyway we get a nasty email that calls us lots of names and just goes on and on and on.... a vitriolic rant.

Fran responds that we find it laughable that she has now decided to call us all of these names and scream and yell after she has been the one harassing us for months and we are doing what she wants ( vacating her space) and we will be out the 10th.

Meanwhile... at the shop this woman keeps coming in and telling me how she is moving in on the first, when will I give her a key on and on...

Sunday ....

The crazy woman is back and wants the key. I feel like I'm about to snap. I know this is another way the landlady is harassing us, The "new tenant" tells us that she isn't going to be paying rent - The Evil Landlady is letting her have the space until December, gratis. I really feel like screaming at this point. That night Fran and I have a long talk and decide that it just isn't worth the hassle and we should move everything out on Monday.

Monday...

(Remember our bathroom is still under construction)
We manage to get everything out of the shop in Four van loads. It takes the entire day, but it gets done. We drop the key through the mail slot and poof, 6 years of retail in Hudson is over.
At the house... Everything from the shop is in the yard. We decide that we should try to get the fragile stuff into the house and we'll leave the furniture covered under a tarp until Tuesday.

Tuesday...

We spend the day shoe horning the shop into the house. (It's all a blur at this point)

Wednesday...

More straightening, cleaning and we pack the van for Rhinebeck. (antiques not wool).

Thursday...

Set up at the Rhinebeck Antiques Fair. We get home around 5 and the bathroom is nearly done. a little bit of painting left. Danny - carpenter (Who we are beginning to feel is on staff) jokingly reminds us that he likes to have meals with us. I make a note to have lunch ready for him
Friday...

And here it is one week later. We're off to finish the booth for the show. I think it's the last day of bathroom construction. The house is jammed full of stuff. The show weekend begins.