An Urban Discovery

We made a day-trip to Seattle over the holiday break, & among other things went to a late afternoon matinee of the new Sherlock Holmes (and yes, I liked it very much! How can you not just love Robert Downing & Jude Law?! I'm thinking a lot about urban camouflage since that movie...)
Anyway I digress--we ended up parking on a little street corner next to a playground with a great sculpture!

you may recognize this one...

I did a little sleuthing after we got home--turns out it was done by the same artist who did Waiting for the Interurban, a famous Seattle landmark. (It's so lovable--it gets dressed up for many occasions...it is in Fremont after all!)

What a treat to find out more about Richard Beyer & contributions he's made around the sound & beyond.

...but not likely this one!

Here's what was written about this sculpture:
the University Playground in Seattle was created after hundreds of small family homes were demolished to create a new freeway in the late 1950's. When asked to produce a sculpture for the park, Beyer decided to memorialize the displaced families. A large female Sasquatch is pushing over a "house"  made of 8" beams to resemble a falling down house & still be safe for children at play. 
Only in the northwest--a Sasquatch! (I thought it was a gorilla!)
You go girl! And thanks Richard!           

Time Out for a Rant...

This has literally been the 'perfect storm' week.
I've been housebound with four days of snow, Martin Luther King Day was Monday--with school snow days all week following--and it's been the South Carolina lead-up week.
I'm usually a news hound, but I got an even heavier dose this week--including two GOP debates. I've resisted commenting on the shenanigans of the GOP primary (aka 'weeding-out') process but I just gotta make a brief rant.

Monday was filled with lots of historical media coverage as homage to MLK--most of which I love. Our local NPR station replayed most of the Massey guest lectureships he did after winning the Nobel Peace Prize--so poignant & as timely today as they were almost 45 years ago. Interspersed were the on-the-street news interviews during the zenith of the civil-rights movement. Even after witnessing that daily on the nightly news, the vehemence & violence of the hate-speech is truly shocking.
Fast forward to this week in South Carolina. Although more veiled in double-speak language, the blatant racism & prejudice is truly stunning. And it just keeps coming (...and not just from the Newt.).
I really do live in a thin blue sliver of the country I guess. It's been many months of entertainment but it feels like the humor is abating & the true horror is setting in...and the depression.
Recognition of Mitt as one of "the 1% of the 1%" seems to be a surprise to many as he announced he probably pays 'in the 15% range' of income tax--seriously, you're surprised?!
Rick S. (I still can't utter the last name--he will forever-after be the graphic descriptor pasted on him by Dan Savage) has now been 'given' the Iowa 'win' ('draw' still seems a better term...) & by the way: except for the debates, have you seen him out of his lucky-sweater-vest since Iowa?!

The other Rick--always a great source of comic relief--has finally bowed out & together with the Rogue-Girl, her cape flying, has thrown his (light) weight behind the Newt.
The Newt. Wow.
A standing ovation for his comments on 'you shoot your enemy' & taking on Juan Williams for trying to dig deeper & challenge him on his racist remarks. (Juan-the-amazing-conservative-Williams!!).
Who are those South Carolinians?!
What's happening to us?
All four Republican front-runners have signed on to the 'Personhood' campaign. (Yes, that includes Mitt.) You remember, don't you? The initiative in Mississippi in November that even that very red state couldn't even endorse? Really?! better start hoarding those BCP's just in case...
The fear language is staggering. The 501(c)(4) expenditures are staggering. Spending all that money assaulting each other in the GOP run-up has made for some amusement--but as the dollars start skyrocketing, it's turning mean, & you know by the time it starts aiming across the isle in the summer it will become lethal.
I'm of the mind that the majority-voting Supreme Court justices that passed the Citizens United finding--who then mockingly shook their heads at the President when he said 'shame on you'--should be made to watch every ad that will be run by the super-PACs all year long (I have this vision of Clockwork Orange's approach to 'required' movie watching...).

There have been some little, important flakes of positivity falling though, they just get lost in the roar:

This week Wisconsin voters submitted an over-the-top number of petition signatures to get the Recall Scott Walker campaign started, well before their required deadline.
(Run, Scott, Run!)

The ongoing, hilarious Colbert/Stewart satire on super-PACs has finally reached the mainstream, as Colbert makes a bid for the 'President of the United States of South Carolina'--by having voters vote for Herman Cain (as his name is on the ballot & Colbert's is not!).

The unemployment numbers have continued to show a positive upturn--in tiny increments; the aircraft carrier may be turning. Stay tuned...

Bill Moyers is back with his new series; Moyers & Company.

His interview with Hacker & Pierson should be required watching for every single voter before November (that means you, too!)  It isn't just the 1% vs the 99%.  The 1% income has increased over 250% since the Reagan administration while the 90%  income has actually gone down. The elite of the 1% (like Mitt) are now receiving 1 in every 8 dollars of US income. This is not the effect of global financial issues--this is personal. This belongs to us. Financially, we are much more like Egypt & Mexico & much less like Canada. And the Newt wants to make an issue of such a large number of citizens on food stamps now...
Watch it. Please.
And thanks, Bill! Welcome back!
Okay--rant over....for the time being, at least.

Almost Showtime!

The three-day count down has begun--let the frenzy begin!

Jim & I had our brief moments of 'fame' on the event website--ha ha! Check it out when you have a minute. I'm trying to take pix of items as they get finished up, so I can share when I have a moment.
Meanwhile--may the force be with us; this is the time we wish we had a 'wife' to cook & clean while we're in our respective workshops!  8-)

Murmuration

Such a fun word to say!

Recently we were having a minor chat about Starlings--you know: what's the difference (if any) between US & UK variety, the love/hate cycle with them, etc. 

So while I was snooping the internet for useless bits of information I happened upon this little gem on Vimeo (but the YouTube version is the one I could embed...).

You may well have already seen this, but if not it's a very fun couple of minutes if you have them to spare! (make your screen full-size 1st tho...)

We've seen much smaller versions on the island while waiting for the ferry--but big enough to get your attention & make you wonder what the heck is going on. Hard to imagine an encounter this large & this close!

Per snooping done since I first saw this, the general response seems to be: can't figure it out, can't model it, speeds exceed 20mph at times, and...'no starlings were harmed in the filming of this video!'

Now For Something (almost) Completely Different...

Jim & I are both participating in a December event:
Made Right on Whidbey (check it out!).
That's a first for us--both together. Jim's done many similar events: show/sales, studio tours, etc. I feel kinda like the little kid that gets asked to sit at the grown-up's table--but it's been a good experience for me (so far...). Makes me stretch...

After the December week-end has come & gone--I'll let you know how it went!

Cat-o-penic

Okay--I need to preface this by saying that I really miss having a cat around.  Since Milo left us over a year ago we've been without--and for me that's a first in my entire life.
I usually try to refrain from passing on 'cute u-tubes' but I just couldn't resist this one posted on one of my favorite blogs, Mudflats. Thanks for posting it, Jeanne, so we could all enjoy!

Please Stand By...

Sorry for the brief drop from sight--and missing last week's Wednesday on Whidbey (maybe you didn't even notice!). 

Nothing serious--just chalk it up to 'technical difficulties'... plus an almost honest arrival of summer! (Also throw in the start of a jam-packed eight week summer quarter!)
For a moment of brief entertainment, though, visit a fun list of test pattern 'stuff' at Lists Galore.
Meanwhile, I'll be back at the keyboard tomorrow... and remember, this is only a test!

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words...

One of the things about being an 'artist-wanna-be' is the opportunity to be blown away by the creativity of others regularly. I think the 'wanna-be' part leaves you more vulnerable.  Does that happen to you?
Sometimes when that happens, you say to yourself; "wow, what a brilliant idea--how come I never thought of that?!" (It's so obvious, now that you've shown me!)
 Sometimes it's, "wow, I really like that concept, but I would do it differently"--and occasionally I do use the idea for a 'creative step' to something completely different.
Many times, though, it's "wow, what a brilliant idea--and applied so well; I could never come close to that!" In those cases, most often the concept is so creative, it is truly unique; it stands alone.

That was certainly the reaction to seeing Ohio artist, John Sokol and his word portraits ('sketching' the person in their own words). Wow! (and maybe because he chose some of my favorites to depict...)

I must also give credit to the Amusing Planet  site which took me to the word portraits in the first place--and so many other wonderful wanderings over the months.
Thank you to both!

There Are No Calories in Looking...

Late at night when watching Stewart, Colbert, Ferguson, et al (and I'm not already sewing or crashed on the couch, unplanned, with drool sliding out...) I'm usually on the computer catching up with emails, bills, etc.  It's part of the multi-tasking mindset (...must not have idle hands!).
About twice a month I take a quick cruise through the Blogs of Note list; it's fun, insightful, & who knew all the possibilities?! (I'm feeling more like Margaret & Helen all the time--and less app'd, bookfaced, & tweeted every day!! But I digress.)

Anyway, Sweet Adventures of Sugarbell deserves a comment--if for no other reason than the eye candy of the most amazing cookies I've seen in awhile (really, you can do that?!). 

And, by the way, I'm so envious of bloggers that have the greatest photographs of the most amazing things!  They're not out of focus, or with a yellow... or red or green....haze included. Foodies & great photography especially seem to go hand in hand.  *sigh*
I digress again, sorry.
Sugarbell is also kind enough to share recipes & tips in case you might ever want to venture into the land of royal icing yourself. She makes it look so easy, but obviously an art form... albeit, short lived (except for the photos!)
Thanks!

Red & White Revisited

Remember when I posted the info about the red & white quilt show by the American Folk Art Museum this month? Being on the 'other coast' it was out of my reach, but I was hoping many other 'someones' would get there.
 Well, here's a post from Natalya Aikens, who attended & then posted her photos over the weekend.  Many thanks, Natalya--always love to visit your blog!

Take a Minute

As the month of November comes to an end (I can't believe it's gonna be December!) I've taken down the link to Patty Murray's campaign--thank goodness that was a happy ending!
I've replaced it with a link to a three minute video--at a website worth exploring.  Please take the time sometime soon to watch the video & visit The Girl Effect--the link is in the right hand column. Thanks.

My Winter of Summer Reading

I was just clipping right along with my 2010 reading as noted previously.  A fairly good mix of novel, memoir, art & history.  I've always been a supporter of the 'summer reading' concept.  You know, the lighter fair that works on a beach chair in between busy summer activities--if one presupposes 'summer' & sunny relaxation have arrived!


That train of thought suggests that serious reads are best tackled in the darker, colder times of year. Usually I concur, but I didn't follow that track this year.  Maybe because we were so late starting summer this year, or maybe because I had actually accomplished much of my 'summer reading' in the spring.  In any case, I've been in another land and time for a few months that I thought I would share a little.

In the late spring, I accidentally segued into the 1960's--most of it making my mind go tilt because it required dusting off some old memory boxes that had been fairly successfully locked away.  It seemed to have started with the library's reading project featuring Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" (which I would  highly recommend, by the way).  Nick remembered reading that book for a high school class--but the book & the author were new to me--sorry I missed him the first time he entered our house.  In the midst of the book, PBS did a special on the anniversary of the My Lai disaster, and there was Tim O'Brien as a talking head... weird coincidence.

A shotgun of 60's revisiting happened in quick succession:  "My Detachment" by Tracy Kidder (anything he writes is well worth it...), "If I Die in a Combat Zone" by Tim O'Brien, & then Kathryn Stockett's "The Help" (excellent novel I would recommend).  I thought I was gonna have to check into a rehab facility to get me back into real time, but fortunately I was on a wait list for Tim O'Brien's next requested book.
Hard to explain. Those books put you right back into the time: music, smells, events--which aren't good things necessarily--along with the emotion, frustration, fear, etc. --which aren't necessarily bad things, either. Except now I'm an adult & that gut-wrenching, visceral remembering of 'feeling' from that time can be seductive.  Kind of the putting-you-finger-in-the-light-socket seductive, if you know what I mean.  Okay, step away from the sixties, now ma'am.

So I shook my head, shook off the deja vu, and threw myself into some fast fiction--back to summer reading.  When those books were returned, though, on the next excursion to the library--two more hand grenades jump into my bag:  the "Bill of Wrongs" by M. Ivins (previously mentioned) and Russ Baker's "Family of Secrets".  If you sing the old Sesame Street song, "three of these things belong together, three of these things are kind of the same...", there is certainly a connection with these two books--topics, players, Texas journalists, etc.  Also, both books allow you to digest a certain number of pages before you have to slam the book shut, toss out the expletive-deleted under your breath and go do something else while your gut settles down again.  In contrast to each other, however, Molly's book is a fast, occasionally gallows-humor, cynical satire item (which I love)--extremely sharp torture but it's over soon.

Russ Baker's 500 page tome, "Family of Secrets", on the other hand,  is a dense-pack of factoids telling a century of tales regarding "the Bush dynasty, America's invisible government, and the hidden history of the last fifty years."   It is a slow slog and a treasure trove of the trifecta of money/resources, covert activities, and power/politics.  One of Baker's colleagues suggested naming the book "Everything You Thought You Knew is Wrong", which I think is perfect.  Each page is packed with head-tilting info that reads like a fantasy nightmare, a bad high--this can't be true, right?  This is just a laundry list of innuendo & coincidences--that's at about page 100.
By about page 250 (ok I've passed the pictures at the centerfold...) I'm starting to feel more like Mel Gibson in "Conspiracy Theory".  I'm starting to enter into the den of believability & my palms are getting clammy--I don't think I can keep doing this. In this nightmare, some villains I've loved to hate for decades actually become victims of the dark side they've helped to create--that can't be right, can it?...but I read on.  Too late I figure out it would have been best to read with a white board close at hand with names & fish-bone diagrams to try to keep it all straight...

By about page 350 or so, it truly becomes a labor of love to finish the thing rather than follow the urge to get as far away from the jaws of the shark-book as possible.  But I finished it.  Every last page.  It's not a book I can love, but one I can respect. And I celebrate the tenacity of Russ Baker & the obsessive hunt for connecting the dots that in the end is investigative journalism.  I don't necessarily buy all of the connectivity of power & wealth as plotted & sinister--but the book succeeded in making me ask (repeatedly) why did I/do I believe that is how things came down?  Is my ('our') version really an urban myth that I've held tightly to all of my life?  Is the deeper, smarter version of fooling the electorate really this deep and dark?

My mind has most definitely gone tilt in a big, big way, and this time it's not just the grief & music & peace/love/dope revisited.  This time the frame those banners hung on is under the lens.  And then every event since then.  That's a good thing--but playing some old Jefferson Airplane & Peter, Paul & Mary won't help with this.  Nor will a twelve-day with a couple of two day follow-ups.

I'm most definitely taking a book-break back to some summer reading fair--at least briefly.  But I will also be following Russ Baker's blog, WhoWhatWhy. along with some others that I know will keep asking the hard questions.  Thanks, Mr. Baker...but now I gotta get the shark-book back to the library.  It's overdue--and someone might be watching.

Creativity ala Natalya Aikens

One of the blogs I enjoy following is art by natalya (in the list on the right). She's an inspiration both in the work that she produces, but also because she actively works at the discipline of her art.

Each year she focuses on a 'journal' process for herself--and unlike many of us, she produces! This is one of her daily journal pages from last year.

So go here to check out what she's doing this year--now a monthly (vs daily) project. It will (once again) be great to follow her progress!

Monthly art practice--2009 Square in a Square Project

One of the annual goals I identified was to commit to a regular creative 'art' practice for the year. One of the surprise discoveries I experienced after I began blogging was the 'world' of creative people out there. Many blogs I've visited or routinely follow portray and share the journey of a daily, weekly or monthly creative endeavor. Approaches can include photography, painting, journaling, collages, etc. Two of my favorites this last year were Elin Waterston with her daily block print and Natalya Aikens with her weekly journal collages. There are many, many more out there and some web sites to help spur you on--like Illustration Friday (providing you with a concept or idea to be portrayed weekly).

I've spent some time exploring, thinking, planning for a 'challenge practice' for myself for this year and in the end, I think I will go my own way, rather than be involved in a group process.

My small quilting group spent a fair amount of 2008 working through the Art Quilt Workbook (by Davila & Waterston). My group had difficulty committing to the process due to time and also a varied level of comfort/discomfort with the process. I really enjoyed the projects we completed--and really liked the book. (The authors have now released a second volume that I've not yet seen, Art Quilts at Play--should be fun to explore as well.)

So to fulfill my 2009 goal I'm going to continue with the format, approach to the 'small quilts' done for the Art Quilt Workbook series:
Size: 9" x 12"
Overall theme: continue on with my Square-in-a-Square theme started in 2008
Time frame: each project to be completed no later than last day of each month
Other 'rules':
identify topic or technique for each of the 12 projects with the goal of getting out of my comfort zone (working on that now),
use up materials, scraps, leftovers for all as much as possible, and
have fun!
I've become preoccupied with the square-in-a-square idea over the last year--I 'see' the concept everywhere now & have collected a lot of media/fabric as well as inspirational pictures, etc.
Guess I better get going--only 28 days left for project #1!

25 days--can we just start now!?

With all of the frenzy over the weather, the holidays arriving, you look away and then look back: it's less than four weeks away until the Obama inauguration! 25 days!!
Information abounds about all of the new appointments, new faces, new influences on the soon-to-be Obama administration. I liked this link I found today as a quick reminder, overview for the whole team (even though there was music involved!); have a feeling that I'll return for a reminder here & there as things get 'underway'.
The annual poll 'who do you admire most' just conducted has Obama far ahead of any other (over 35%)--which is a great place to be starting a 'trial-by-fire' term. (First time since Eisenhower that an incoming president-elect filled that slot. Of note, GW Bush is 2nd (5%) & J McCain is 3rd (about 3%), and Sarah Palin is 2nd for most admired women (about 11%). Dang--still! Hillary, however, still reigns in the #1 spot--and has mostly maintained that spot for over fifteen years. Again, a good thing for the incoming administration that 'the public' starts with good thoughts at the beginning of what certainly will be a long slog.
I was reminded this week that not all of us were winners on the home front in November. My Arizona brother pointed out that even though collectively we all gain from Janet Napolitano moving to the Obama cabinet, the governor's seat will revert from blue to red at home; and Senator/candidate McCain had some coat tails at home which moved the state legislature to firmly red both houses. The Arizona flip flop from blue to red to blue over & over is not a new surprise, but it is disappointing that our national gain enhanced their loss at home.
In other national winner/loser catch up, however, we may have gotten a Christmas eve present from the Minnesota supreme court: it looks like Al Franken may really be 'the one', can you believe it? Although the certification of the election (which will surely have court battles to follow) is not expected until after New Years, Franken is now 46 votes ahead. So the 'unknown' senators are narrowing down.

Some Encouraging News as the Countdown Continues...

Hey, I just checked a blog site that I haven't been to for awhile "Five Thirty Eight"--it was a Blog of Note in September & I visited then a few times. It's a pretty heady compilation of 'all' the polls, trends for this November's election--more than you ever care to know about the national, as well as some state info. (The 538 is the number of electoral votes available when electing the president, in case you'd forgotten as I did...)
Anyway--in September it was just after the GOP convention, and things were certainly trending into McCain/Palin land. Today, though, the numbers look much different--and for me, much better than I was currently feeling; definitely trending way up in Obama's favor. I know things can change alot in the days left ahead, but I find it encouraging. Take a look; I'm including it in my list of sites to follow (in the margin).
Also--I mentioned the Mudflats site right after the Palin bomb was dropped by McCain (i.e. "Mudflats: tiptoeing through the muck of Alaska politics"). I've continued to read regularly; he's (or I assume it's a 'he'...) such a great writer & it is worth some brief moments of comic relief (if not sadly ironic tales & factoids) while watching the Alaska experience up-close-and-personal not only in the Palin craze & the investigation on the home front, but also the Ted Stevens drama. So if you haven't yet, take a brief drive-by--the link is in the right margin.
The time is now for Obama--on to tomorrow night's debate...

Kimono Silk

Next to batiks, I'm quite partial to silks and most Japanese textiles. We're fortunate to have a shop in our tiny town with lots of Japanese exotica--tonsu, obi, etc. Sometimes I can find oddments there--small silk cut-offs in good shape--that don't cost a silly amount. I've used some nice pieces to make some great additions to projects. It's kind of fun to feel like you've found a 'bargain' and put it to good use.
With that mindset, imagine my pleasure in stumbling on this website: the kimono flea market! Actually a bit of a misnomer: more than kimono, and quite well thought out and displayed (as in, not a flea market feel!). Anyway if you enjoy Japanese textiles and clothing, or just like to learn more, this is a great site. If you click on items, they go into an amazing amount of detail for each item, and also offer definitions, history, etc. (Start by clicking on the list at the left.) What fun!

Free is good!

I really enjoyed this clip you may already know it--it was new to me, & was a brief 'feel good' endorphin boost! (I most liked the first little 'old' lady, and the skateboarder!)

Happy Valentines Day--the day after...

Had great intentions of posting this last evening, but didn't do so well trying to add a link--wanted to share a site I visit from time to time that currently has a little valentine video that gives a flavor of what they're into: PostSecrets
(Go to the second item on 2/11 and click on the "watch the new PostSecret Valentine Video on MySpace" link.) Besides that, wander through the site--there has been a fair amount written & talked about this project; it's a pretty simple but humbling collection.

But meanwhile today dawned in the most non-valentines way with yet another school shooting...truly a heartbreaker. So senseless. So vulnerable. What secrets are in the hearts of those with the triggers? What would they have written on the postcard? Why don't they write those secrets instead of what they choose to do? What can possibly help the survivors--or the next group that will be at risk? I think Joe is right: you feel concerned about too much focus or media coverage; giving too much credence for the next potential shooter...but how can you not mourn?


Here's to finding some peace for those hearts that are surely breaking tonight...

Is The Fat Lady Singing?

Wow...looking at the (incomplete) returns from the 'Potomic primary' today, and seems like this really might be it. Not even Valentine's Day & the frenzy is pretty much behind us. I'm having a bit of a hard time believing it...but I guess I can live with it. There will be plenty of time to debrief & analyze all of it, but for now--I still want to take a little time & do the 'wow--how did that happen, exactly?'

Meanwhile:
congratulations to Devin--a delegate to the County Caucus in April (elected at the Caucus on Saturday...).
Pats on the back to Nick for rejoining us with much welcomed pictures today (go, Nick!) Zack, welcome home soon!
And here's to hoping that all of the infirm workers of the world heal & return to their rightful location!

In case you've missed some of the recent blogs highlighted, check these three silly ones out: http://photowebs.blogspot.com/ (not sure why the too cutesy kid/dogs are there today--but I've really enjoyed their previous topics...)
http://foundinpockets.blogspot.com/ (not even sure why I like it...maybe from years of doing laundry?)
http://wichone.blogspot.com/ (in honor of Joe & Tom; took me a little while to figure out the site--then they made it easy once they became 'famous' and posted an explanation!)

(and PS on an unrelated topic--the fat lady was signing at the Grammy's the other night; now I LOVE Aretha, but come on: not the best apprearance in a gold strapless gown...!)