the pumpkin cake that's about to be frosted!

here's a pic of the pumpkin cake i'm about to go and frost. russ begged for another after we split the leftovers of the first one with the people we did thanksgiving with. that last piece of sentence seemed all wrong, but i didn't know how else to say that.

anyhow, this is the last week (or second to last) of school for russ and we are eagerly awaiting the break. i'm up to my ears in holiday shopping, which i love and i'm working on a number of holiday crafts, so i'll post pics when i have them. i'll try to post some wip (work in progress) pics too when i get to a good spot.

that's all for today!
cheers,
sam

first turkey and one of those deliciously productive weekends

well, since i left my camera at work, i have no proof of the turkey i made, except from the people that ate it up on thursday. besides a leaky pan which caused some alarm at the smoking oven, the actual turkey came out unburned, juicy and all around great (thanks martha!) and we finished the last of the leftovers today. now i don't have to be scared and i learned how to make gravy from scratch, so all's well that ends well, right?

the long weekend has been so nice. thursday we rested after eating and watched movies. yesterday i did some holiday shopping (great deals at target!) and bought some yarn for a project i'm doing for a secret santa at work. today, i rearranged our house, made a cloth covering for a shelving unit in the kitchen, started knitting and made some bread. about every six months or so i have a habit of rearranging all the furniture and pictures and such in the house. it just feels fresh to have everything in a new place, especially if it is cleaner, more efficient or looks better. once again, no camera, so i'll post pics of the stuff i did later.

i hope everyone's thanksgivings were special and restful!
now comes my favorite part...advent season!
sam

busy as bees and Edward Gorey

well, with holiday rapidly approaching and my job getting busier than ever AND with the semester winding down and professors piling report upon project upon test on russ, we've been trying to take it day by day. which is mostly my reason for not having posted anything for about 2 weeks and not having had taken any good pictures to display. i've drawn a few things and hopefully will make some time to post them soon. i'm also planning to make a shirt (or dress? haven't decided) from one of the patterns i got at joann's, so i'll post that soon too.

speaking of sewing, i just found this great book for beginners:

one of the new patterns i just got is by the same "wendy" person... so it should be a good resource! maybe i'll put it on my xmas list... :)

i just got some books from the library today. after watching charlie & the chocolate factory last week (thanks again mish!) i was surfing the web and learning about tim burton and danny elfman, being that i really admire both of their work and love the quirky/whimsical nature of their respective styles. it was in this internet rambling that i found edward gorey.

he was apparently a source of inspiration for burton and i have become enamored of his macabre and occasionally menacing illustrations and stories.

i've found myself in one of those dry phases that happens to artists, which is both frustration and opportunity at the same time. it is during these spells that i try to gather together inspiring things... books, music, other artists and try to get somewhere with it all. it's frustrating, but i have generally supposed it to be a necessary part of life. i think i've also just been feeling so busy that it's been hard to slow down enough to get the good stuff out. i don't know about other artists, but for me to make the best pieces, i generally need to be in a place of utter honesty and stillness in my soul. when there's too much going on all about me, i tend to make just fluff pieces or practice sketches, but nothing i would consider really showing. it's the stuff of the breakdowns or breakthroughs that seems best. at least it seems that way so far.

well, enough of my inner dialogue for you all today... i'm off to make more bread.
expect reports on my first turkey cooking this week! eeep!
cheers,
sam

first sewing project!

well, i made my first bag today. the fabric is from a tapestry i used to have hanging in my bedroom. i love it! it holds so much stuff and will be perfect for taking my lunch, water bottle, extra shoes and cardigan to work with. see more pics on my flickr page.

tomorrow starts a new week!
sam

p.s. i cut my own hair last weekend with two mirrors in the bathroom. turned out pretty okay, don't you think?

new painting and doll

i've had a bit more free time this past week or two, or maybe i ought to say i've been a bit more constructive with my free time this past week or two, but either way, i've posted a few new things on my flickr page.

i got a sewing machine this weekend - my xmas gift from my mom, but she let me go ahead and get it now so i could start playing with it. i get this from her... we both never wait until the official day to give or open presents. it's just too much waiting around for us, so we are the spoiler types. i just hope i can get it under control before i have kids or their whole gift mentality will be all wonky. (wonky is a word i've picked up around here... it's general meaning is termed to be in the neighborhood of "bent out of shape, discombobulated, sloppy, crooked, etc.")

hope everyone is having a great weekend!
sam