Hurtin'

Somehow, I need a complete overhaul on my finances.

In that vein, I am having a big ol' sale at Zucchini and Co.

Stop by and check it out! All the cards are at super-low prices, and if you mention the blog, you will get some bonus items!

What could be better than that?!

Gallery 125 Opening

I have never gone to an opening like this before. Been to other people's but not my own. Except in college. This wasn't my show, of course, but being a part of it I had to wear a nametag, shake hands with people and such!




The ceramic piece in the center there was one of my most favorites. There were a few other photographs (the show may have been 75% photography?) that I really liked, too. And I don't usually like photo! Rather, not that I don't like it, I just don't understand it as much. Plus it's not my forte.
Look, though, there were a lot of people there! On a downpouring Friday night in downtown Trenton. I was impressed. I had to include the crazy picture of me that Dave took. He just cracked up laughing at it. I am so unphotogenic!

Mmmm. Cooking.

So I have a day off today. I am being very productive, and also very domestic. After cleaning my kitchen thoroughly, I decided I wanted to cook [and make a mess of it]. So I made my dad's meatballs and tomato sauce. Of course I can't help myself, and I think that it tastes pretty awesome thus far. Only a few more hours of simmering left.

The grills

I miss my family today. Because it's rainy and I didn't really talk to anyone all day. I made a little sketch of my sisters and my mom. They're so cute.

Gallery 125

I'm hella excited about this show in Trenton... I have 2 pieces in the show, even made it on the advertising, and plan to go to the opening! If you're around, please stop in and check it out!

Gallery 125, at the corner of Warren and W. Lafayette, across from the Marriott in downtown Trenton

Just 20 minutes from Mt. Holly!

First Day of School.

I don't like change. I always cry a little on the first day. It may be out of nervousness or maybe a little dread, maybe just being tired from getting up hours earlier than I have in months.

But I am reading this book, The Courage To Teach, by Parker J. Palmer, and he seems to be speaking straight to me, and those first-day tears.

Parker writes: "Unlike many professions, teaching is always done at the dangerous intersection of personal and public life. [...] a good teacher must stand where personal and public meet, dealing with the thundering flow of traffic at an intersection where 'weaving a web of connectedness' feels more like crossing a freeway on foot. As we try to connect ourselves and our subjects with our students, we make ourselves, as well as our subjects, vulnerable to indifference, judgement, ridicule." (p.17)

I always want to have the answers. The right answers. I want to be able to explain art. And when I explain art, not have a student writing a note or dozing off. Isn't that the vulnerability? Am I so dull? Is art so dull? Why am I unable to make the connection between the passion that I feel for art communicate to an audience of adolescents? And Parker makes the case that it is about knowing one's self, enough to survive that vulnerability, to live with and through it, and have that insecurity be something that helps you grow. And he doesn't speak of growing as a teacher; rather, one must grow as an individual in order to grow as a teacher.

It's very interesting. Makes me think quite a bit about what I am doing. And it makes me cry a little.

ooh more books.

so so busy, in this last week before school starts again. if only this was a "quit your day job" article... i guess i'd get bored of just making things, in my kitchen, by myself... but it'd definitely be fun for a while!

go get one in my shop!

Always on my mind...

Lately, I've been making a lot of little bound things--books and pads and calendars.




The things that my mind has been on, all of the things that I need to do, the upcoming school year, and knowing I am going to be oh-so-busy in just one short week.
Eleven more days of blissful, boring summer.

dedicated to Dave.

Just kidding. He's not cheesy. And he definitely wouldn't use that line. He should ask me that, though--I've been such a great girlfriend lately.

McSweeney's

Are you familiar with McSweeney's? LOL, ROTFL, or lqtm while you read their Lists. I made a card set featuring some of my favorites. They're for sale on my etsy site and I thought I'd show you some here.

Craftivism

I haven't been really hyped up about a movie in a long, long time. And no, I haven't seen The Dark Knight yet.

But Handmade Nation has definitely made me want to go to some small theater and see a movie!

I really feel like we are at a breaking point, as far as American consumerism is concerned, and there has to be a point where we realize that we are capable of creating--with love, ingenuity, and our OWN two hands--better quality, more interesting, more aesthetically-pleasing items to suit our needs. Realize you are much more than just a consumer, more than a maker-of-waste.

Oh it's just such a huge thing! I mean, we can talk human rights, ecology, recycling, personal finance, Eckhart Tolle-type stuff; making things versus buying things takes crafting way beyond scrapbooking and into a whole way of life!



The Craftifesto was written by Cinnamon Cooper and Amy Carlton, you can buy one HERE!

*Slightly Inappropriate*

Drawings that only an art teacher could love... but isn't it great?
Get your minds out of the gutters!

A show!

So I am hanging a show today (for First Friday) at Milkboy Coffee in Bryn Mawr, PA.

If you're in the area, please stop by and check it out! It's new stuff! They have coffee!

Details...

ooh.
i love philly's old buildings. and their washed-out old ads. and so does he.

what i'm currently working on

so dave and i cook all of the time (ok, maybe he does most of the cooking! but i always keep him company)... and we've come up with some pretty good menu items. so i usually write down the general idea of the recipe on whatever greasy scrap paper is around and shove it in a drawer.
finally, i have decided to compile these scrappy recipes into a little notebook. i realize that typing them would be a more permanent and probably quicker thing to do... but a hand-drawn cookbook is super fun, isn't it?

gettin' inspired

I need to just sit and create things all day long. I, instead, have been wandering the etsy forums and seeing the wonderful things that others have created... while not actually making anything myself. though i did find the best gift for a friend's on-the-way baby:



Been in a lull lately... hoping that when it drops below 90 I'll be a bit less lethargic.

girly things

i was feeling silly last night. and his email is davidrus, i always think "davidsaurus." dino love.

art sites i like.

so summer gives you time to get lost on the internet. sometimes there's really cool stuff there.

art can be used for social change.
www.gimmeshelter.co.uk
www.thememoryproject.org

art can be about the process more than the product... and documenting that process.
www.learningtoloveyoumore.com

art can be silly.
Play

art can inspire.
Sabrina Ward Harrison
David Brady
Pierre Bonnard
Suzanne Valadon

what inspires you?