4.29.2012

the things we find along the way...


life has this funny way of presenting us with opportunities where we least expect them. i was hunting for an old notebook... any old notebook... and came up, instead, with a trio of empties begging to be filled.  the top notepad was purchased a few years back from a knick-knack seller in some quaint New England town.  it was the only item i ever purchased in my many visits to that particular shop, and i fully admit to giving in to girlish weakness over that super cute cover.  the middle one is a blank Bare Book from my days as a summer camp counselor.  if memory serves... i found the stark, white exterior incredibly intimidating, so i spent an evening covering it with many layers of torn, crumpled up grocery bags held in place with watered-down white glue.  the end result is reminiscent of a light, wrinkled leather.




and the bottom "book"... that's just a thing of sheer genius.  i made that one about 15 years ago, while trying to keep the young students in my gardening class occupied one dreary Saturday morning.  a fallen twig from a cherry tree, a couple pieces of corrugated cardboard, and a single sheet of handmade paper to embellish the front "cover"... and a notebook is born.



oh.. and a few pieces of goldenrod paper i "borrowed" from the copy machine.  what???  it was work-related.  



my favorite part is the back cover, specifically... the knot in the strand of raffia that holds it all together.  




now... i just need to find a pen.


4.01.2012

salvage job...

so... i made this bracelet...



but i've been haunted by this feeling
of overwhelming incompleteness.  it just did't feel done.  don't get me wrong... i am renowned for the dullness of my mostly-black wardrobe, but i do love bold accessories.  this thing just... well... it has all the excitement of hand-washing gym socks.

so, i sorted through my stash, and added a few random bits and bobs in an effort to create a more controlled-disorder effect. 



not bad, eh?



i love the twisty metal bits and the crystal dangling from the chain.  this project ranks somewhere in the range of advanced-beginner.  it is, after all, a simple charm bracelet... but there is so much beauty in simplicity.   


























oh... and i had a handful of wired beads left over...














so i wrapped them onto a a few links, added ear hooks, et voilĂ ... earrings!!!  with a bracelet that busy, it's best to keep the earrings simple, or just opt for a pair of hoops instead.



after all the hard work taking pictures of my own wrist,  i unwound with a treat from the little pâtisserie up the street that claims to make the world's best donuts.  the pillowy, old-fashioned dough is filled with a vanilla pastry cream that is absolutely superb.  the chocolate donut disappeared mysteriously while i was searching for the camera.  hey... no one's ever accused me of having either patience or self-control.  not sure if i'm ready to uphold the advertised claim of world's best... but that is one absurdly good donut.