though i’ve neglected the gloves for a few days, i was able to knit last night while watching a dvd and sipping some hot chocolate.  here’s what i have so far:

it’s quite warm out today, which probably means that by the time i finish these gloves, i’ll have to store them away for next winter!  perhaps i’ll knit the matching beret when i’m done- that way i’ll have a complete set when the cold returns

currently on repeat in the studio:

so so good.  the kinks, belle and sebastian, and kimya dawson on one soundtrack? awesome.  i saw this in the theatre twice and could go for a third viewing too!

will i ever tire of a croissant and latte on the weekend? never.

steve and i stumbled upon the mt. washington arboretum on a weekend drive to take a peek at the new studio space. i can’t wait to revisit when everything is in bloom. it’s very close to the studio and i foresee myself taking some breaks there when it warms up.

this weekend has been a time for working on those fair isle gloves- i can’t wait to share my (slow) progress with you- i’m really happy with the colors i chose. i’m also catching up on my magazine reading

(i do have a weakness for these. if you reuse magazines in any fashion, and live in the baltimore area please let me know and i’d be happy to send some your way!)

and a new book that i picked up at the san diego airport, pillars of the earth. by the way- i just finished atonement and LOVED it!

now it’s time to take the pups for a walk. see you tomorrow!

p.s. these were taken with a camera phone- isn’t that amazing!!

okay, so the weekend was not chock full of posts as i had promised. san diego was a true vacation. i would say that i only squeezed in about one hour of work time. we lounged, we ate, then we lounged some more.

dome photo from www.balboapark.org
note the picture in the upper left corner- that pretty much sums up my four days. some highlights: running in balboa park, the most delicious breakfast in north park at the mission, a visit to ocean beach, and seeing my very best friend who i haven’t seen in over a year! now, it’s back to work!

2.20.2008 one a day challenge

well everyone, i’ll be on a plane first thing tomorrow.  i’m headed to see my very best friend all the way out in san diego.  just in time to escape the snow here!  there will be no one-a-day challenges while i’m gone, but you can bet that there will be posts a-plenty.

if you happen to be sticking around the baltimore area, will you be checking out the annual american craft council show?  this is the first time in seven years that i won’t be attending.  i’d love to hear your reports on the new section entitled, “New Wave Craft” featuring 15 (out of 100 applicants!!) indie artists.   good luck guys!

some additional must-sees:

the searchlight artists section

my perennial favorites:  eric silva, karen gilbert, kiwon wang, katherine koehler, chris antieau.  (sorry for the lack of hyperlinks- i need to get to packing!)

an additional note:  while i’m gone, all imogene and etsy orders will ship on the 27th and dear steve will be taking care of all bead orders during my absence.

see you when i’m in san diego!

xoxo

my apologies. i am behind on my daily challenge pieces as i am experiencing back pain again. this is starting to worry me a little bit. . . i’m going to rest my terribly stiff back today and catch up on paperwork instead of working at the bench. if you have any home remedies for back pain, i’d love to hear them! have a wonderful friday everyone! xoxo

in honor of abe lincoln’s bday

ok.  no one a day challenge piece today.  a simple afternoon errand turned into this:

yes.  this is steve staring inquisitively into the guts of my car.  this was taken while we awaited a tow truck . . . why, oh why does car trouble equate to such huge mounds of stress?!

two bits to share today.

1. steve sent me this image which made me smile. thought i’d share. you can find it at wish jar

2. i found this today on my sidewalk. this makes me feel a terrible, depressing sadness for the state of my neighborhood.

it also reminded me of The City Flora/City Flotsam series by Jan Yager ( a necklace from the series pictured below). click here for more info including a video interview with Yager and the purpose of her work.

i’ve been tagged by “ez”, one of my very favorite bloggers of the beautiful , creature comforts.  (have you seen the accompanying boutique, wren eleven?  i’d check out the jewelry section if i were you- hint hint!)

five random/weird facts about me:

1.  a recent self discovery:  i’m a maniacal workaholic.  i will spend 14+ hours chugging away in the studio or at the computer if  left alone.  luckily, steve usually drags me away.  the only other thing that can take me away is the promise of indian, japanese, or thai food.  actually. . . any cuisine as long as i don’t have to cook it . . .

2.  i recently bought way too many boots cosmetics products.  wow.  i love boots.  i did the 5 day detox plan in order to regain my energy levels- it works!  also got no. 7 natural blush in petal, botanics volumising mascara (though i haven’t worn mascara in eight years), no. 7 amazing eyes pencil in black (because i’m addicted to eye liner), no. 7 high shine lipgloss in flirt, botanics lipstick in hibiscus.  help!

3.  netflix is my guilty pleasure.  currently watching all episodes of LOST

4.   i was a ballerina for seven years and have always dreamed of being in a dance company.  (after seven years, i turned into a rebellious young lady and quit).  i’m thinking of taking classes again because i can’t commit to my gym or yoga memberships.

5.  i believe that beige hose/tights are a creation of the devil.

thanks for tagging me creature comforts!  i tag

low inertia

beth pohlman

red prairie press

nice

midge’s mind 

the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

for those who are not already familiar with margaux lange’s blog, i’d like to call your attention to her most recent post, “the f word”.

i hope you will share your thoughts either here, at her blog, or feministing.

and just for the record.  margaux ranks way up there on my list of inspirational women.

from a fellow feminist,

annie

this is how my afternoon began.  yes.  it’s true. the mail ACTUALLY arrived this way.  needless to say, it was all disasters ALL the time after that.  have you ever had one of those days in the studio?  where the studio gods just decide that they are going to have a laugh at your expense?

bad news:

1.  etching was a disaster.  i had planned on etching 35 necklaces today.  total etched today - zero.  the resist that i use, pnp, was just NOT going to adhere to the silver today.  no sir.

2.  liver of sulfur mystery.  normally, oxidizing silver is a breeze.  i soak the pieces in liver of sulfer, burnish, and voila!  this was not the case today.  i soaked and burnished, repeated. . . and repeated . . . and repeated.  the oxidization was uneven, or not happening at all.  sigh.

3.  also on the scheduled list of things to do:  photograph new work to show you!  but alas, it is quite dark out already and this will have to wait until tomorrow.

good news:

1.  i received my very first sampler in the mail! (undamaged)  pictures to come shortly!

2.  the aforementioned “new work”!  hint:  black and gold

3.  the birthday contest winner will be drawn tonight!

so i suppose it all balances out doesn’t it?  see you tonight with the name of the winner.  hurry everyone! you’ve still got some time.

i’m back from my first-time-ever-visit to amsterdam and paris!  i feel refreshed, happy, inspired, and ready-to-work.  during our stay in amsterdam, we strolled by a beautiful swan.  i do think he was putting on a show just for us.  this image remains with me . . .

to my blog reader friends and shoppers, i bid you farewell until halloween day! i’m going away for some much needed r&r before the holiday season kicks into full swing. the shop will be closed until i return. (my etsy store will remain open, but i will not be able to ship until i’m back.) have a wonderful week!

ah, and where am i going? here is one giant clue:

image from www.citysnapper.org

three more days until renegade chicago! i’ll be working at the bench today. just me and my giant cups of coffee. in case you haven’t seen it yet, an updated clip from handmade nation.