Mayfly

For a swap I'm doing with a new friend:

That Hillary, she's something else! The design is simple and adorable, the pattern and directions are clear and easy to follow, and the whole idea behind selling the pattern instead of the doll- so brilliant. And the freebies get you (or keep you) hooked plus there will be more accessories and friends- oh good grief. Hillary, it's a stroke of crafty genius. Thank you.

If you'd like to flip through a whole slew of these cuties click here.

Wait. One more thing. I really want to thank you all for the kind words about my rant. The bird painting is starting to grow on me just a little and I'm actually considering framing it up and keeping it. (Sorry, Foffie, I'll paint you another.) I'm trying to make some attitude adjustments regarding my own work, so thank you again. I've decided maybe even if I don't adore my own stuff, I'll just lift up my chin and fake it. Then maybe I'll forget the faking-it part and some real confidence will grow.

Posted by Alicia at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Translation: Diaper purse

I made this tiny diaper bag for N's birthday gift. I have to admit, there were selfish motivations at work for this bag. Not only has she been enjoying it for days, it also gives us a place to stash all her babies' bottles, spoons, bowls and bibs come the end of a day. She received a lot of baby care items for Christmas and her birthday, and I'm dog tired of hunting them all down every morning. I also intended to make her some reusable diapers like these, but ran out of time. I still will- maybe at nap time today.

My little mama spends a lot of her day caring for her babies- wiping bottoms, feeding, giving baths, pushing them in the stroller. It's hard work, you know, taking care of kids. Yup. You probably know.

Posted by Alicia at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Staying busy here. I've got a few swaps in the works and I'm working on a small painting my friend asked for ages ago. (We're doing a little trade.) I don't hate it, but I don't love it. It was inspired by the bird paintings I did for N's room, but I like the originals better. Let's call this one a work in progress. I'm half tempted to paint over it and start again.

See, I have a problem. I never like my own work. I don't think it's awful, just not great. I do enjoy making it; I paint murals for a living (sort of) for Pete's sake. But even the murals, which turn out fine, make me extremely nervous. I breathe a huge sigh of relief when the client comes in to see the finished work and likes it. People ask me all of the time if I have murals all over my house. NO! I couldn't stand to stare at them that long. Too permanent. It took a lot for me to come to terms with hanging those birds in her room.

So why choose to be an artist if you're so unhappy with the outcome? That's the question for me. I love making things- artistic and pretty yet functional items- bags, dolls, clothes. But it's easier to see the purpose for them. Example: I LOVE, LOVE Melissa's art quilt. Beautiful. I think in my head, I should try that. But then again, would I hang it in my own house when I'm done? Probably not. If someone wanted it, then sure, I'd make it.

This is the basic problem I had in college. I loved the process much more than the product. That printshop smelled so good, was a big magical science lab of sorts, but sit through another brutal critique of my mediocre yet passable art? See ya. I'm off to the bar. And all that conceptual bologna. Good grief. I get it already. I'm just here to draw a barn, people. (My senior show was all barns- I'll have to post a few sometime. Look here and here.) Don't get me wrong. I love abstract and conceptual art. I really do appreciate it. But it is what it is, let the viewer interpret. Quit blabbing about your privileged (or unprivileged) upbringing and your relentless struggle with self discovery. Ok, now I'm just being bitter. Sorry. And they wondered why I didn't apply to graduate school.

Yet I really feel the drive to make stuff. I love being creative, drawing and painting and sewing and maybe even printing again one day. But is it weird to want to throw away what you've just made? Was it all a waste of time?

Holy smokes. Look at all of this. Thank you if you've waded through this far- I didn't intend to post about all of this today. I was just going to show you this little bird painting I've been dabbing at. I am not looking for any stroking. I am trying to think this through. Is this common? Is it just insecurity? Is this the defining problem that holds me at crafter and not artist?

Posted by Alicia at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)

:: The boy's table ::

:: The girl's table ::

My kids' birthdays are nine days apart (+4 years) so they share a family party. It's a lot less work and travel for all. At one end of the house was the girlie tea party table, at the other was the space adventure table. After singing to J, everyone filtered through the kitchen to the dining room to sing to N. Both kids had a great time running crazy with their cousins and opening all the loot. There are more pictures of the party here. (Thanks for coming, my sweet family!)

It was quite the birthday extravaganza weekend. Yes, J and two of his buddies, Daddy and Da all enjoyed the Monster Truck Jam. We'll have a special dinner on N's actual birthday and maybe something sweet for desert, then we're taking a rest. Phew.

Posted by Alicia at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

You guys... you warm a girl's heart. And with cold days like these, I can use all the warmth I can get.

Thank you so much for all of the amazingly sweet comments about J's birthday and his pillow.
You're too much.

Posted by Alicia at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

My J is having a birthday tomorrow. I was trying to explain to him this morning that his birthdays are nearly as important to me as to him, because it's the day I became a Mommy. But he can't fathom that now. He's too busy; his mind is a blur of rockets and monster trucks and trains that make smoke. He's a little boy and he's almost 6.

He requested a travel cushion similar to one his sister has but with a rocket with smoke (of course!). He wanted it to look like, and I quote, "the rocket that the monkey went up into space in." Alright, then. I went with the Saturn V.

The tan square is a pocket and the back is made from a thrifted men's shirt. I'm going to tuck a comic book and a few action figures in there to complete the gift. This was so fun to make. No planning was necessary really, just cutting and ironing and stitching. There was no cussing or seam ripping involved. It all just sort of fell into place. Although there was a lot of this, "Mom, can I come in there yet?"

Oh, yes. I almost forgot. Look where he wants to go this weekend instead of having a big birthday party. Good grief.

** added: Some of you have asked about how I assembled the rocket. I cut out all of the shapes, used Pellon Wonder-Under to fasten them all down into place, and then zig-zagged (tight and wide) along the edges. I've done this a hundred times before on little patches, but never on something this complicated. I'd have to say it was still a breeze. And Hannah, I like to call it the POOR-man's serger. : ) **

Posted by Alicia at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)

Sadly, I postponed the get-together on account of bad weather,
which ended up bad but not that bad.

Sorry ladies- We'll do it in a few weeks.
Enjoy the tasty treats with your families!

Posted by Alicia at 7:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

I think I've got a bad-day hangover. Yesterday, a little someone got sent to the Principal's office. His offense was minor but he'd been repeatedly warned. Then an out-of-control afternoon followed, leading to the loss of books at bedtime AND four days of his rationed "computer privileges." Oh, boy. It's all made me really want to hold him tight and keep him snuggly close today.

The weather is suddenly getting wintry, and we're packing it in for a long weekend. Chili is simmering, cornbread will soon be baking, tasty adult beverages are at hand. There's bacon and whole wheat pancake mix and coffee to be ground for the morning. Sunday, some lovely ladies will be coming over for a visit and I'm planning to make this cake. And what do you know? An extra day off Monday. (I think I can cram a little studio time in there too!)

It's all just the cure I need.

Wonderful weekends to you all.

p.s. This is De-Lurking Week. So go ahead. Say hello. Ok?

Posted by Alicia at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

J's pumpkin. A compost volunteer.

Posted by Alicia at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

A groovy bag for Zoe, stuffed with art supplies.
And a wet dog. He's old and senile, but sweet.
Well, I can remember when he was sweet.

::

A bag for Releia who won a contest I had FOREVER ago.
I am the World's Biggest Procrastinator. Always have been.

The forcast today: sunny and in the 50's.
If you can't find us, we're at the park.

Posted by Alicia at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

I have always loved a nice egg sandwich with cheese (this time muenster) and a sprinkling of pepper on whole wheat toast.

I also love short work weeks- oooo, if only they all were this short.
and play dates. at their houses.

My energy for cleaning is fizzling out, but we're on our fourth car load to Goodwill. I love donating to and buying from second-hand stores. What could be better, really?!

I ADORE this new site. So far it's eerily beautiful and peaceful. Shari's set of black and white photographs is peaceful too. Simply perfect.

Generous people are the BEST. Have you seen how much money the auction is raising? Everything is way out of my price range, but that is quite alright!

I'll be back next week with the last of my handmade gifts and the first tiny baby steps of my new More Art Plan. Happy weekending, everyone! May you all discover, or visit, or do, or create something you love too.

Posted by Alicia at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

On a trip to a very charming local (to her) farm, Amy found some pretty green eggs. I've been meaning to snap a quick picture of the technicolor eggs my dad's chickens have been laying. Sometimes they are even a little blueish. My mom says they are practicing for Easter- no dying necessary.

J feeding the chickens a few summers ago. This picture always makes me smile. (That t-shirt fits now.)

Well, that's all. Still cleaning like a mad woman here. A friend stopped by last night at 9:15 on a whim and the house was perfectly pop-in ready. No dirty kid undies on the floor. No stacks of junk mail. Toys put away. I was darn tootin' proud.

Posted by Alicia at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

It's a new day, a new year. The prospect of a fresh start has us positively in a frenzy. After a couple of weeks of overindulgence and lazing around, something has snapped. Buzzing like bees I tell you. In the last two days we've put away the holiday decorations, cleaned, organized, pared down. It feels so good. The rushed gift making is over, and it is time to clean up the studio. That's my goal for today. Studio and laundry room. And maybe the pantry.

As we all seem to be doing, I've also been pondering resolutions. The usuals are contenders: staying organized, eating healthy, more exercise, yadda yadda yadda. But what I really want to do this year is start making more art. Since I've gotten interested in this art and craft blogging world, I have really expanded my definition of art (which is a long rambling post for another day.) But even with that said, I'm missing the basics. Painting. Drawing. Oh, how I miss printmaking. There's no reason I can't do hand-printed linocuts and woodcuts and maybe some small scale screen printing here in my studio. It's time. It's been too long. And photography. I love taking pictures. I need to take a class. Hmmm... much to think about. Actually, I may be over-thinking. Alicia, just jump in and start creating. Yes. yes.

But all of this creating will have to wait another day or two. I want to ride this cleaning wave while it lasts, because around here they don't roll by too often.

Best wishes to you all in the new year!

Posted by Alicia at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)