A few (fuzzy) pictures of the tadpole "project". The kids are simulating "rain" with a spray bottle and that third shot is of just a few of the 2 dozen or so little guys we caught....I can't wait for froggies!!!!
and Molly's seedlings are sprouting this week too! Soon we will be swimming in basil, roma tomatos & sunflowers!!!! Yaaaaaay! (yes, I just did the Kermit the frog arm-dance!)

Red Letter Weekend

All good things must come to an end...so I bid adieu to a loverly weekend.
Saturday was delightful...what started as a brief visit to gather some tadpoles at a friend's pond turned into an enchanted romp through (part) of their 100 acres of Callahan Woodland. We saw fairy domeciles...doozer caves, dragon dung and more varieties of moss than I ever knew existed. Add to that great conversation, a nice bottle of wine and Cheese (Brie, Bleu and Chevre to be exact) and it was one of the best days we've had in forever! These friends of ours also have a beautiful daughter about the boy's age and the kids had a great time too! Romping and exploring through her "Tarabithia"...(We try not to discuss the pre-arranged marriage too loudly around the boy..he gets twitchy...but part of her "dowry" might include a hunk of this property, getting us one step closer to our dream of "Kadestan" ;)

Yesterday I worked so it wasn't "technically" weekendy but I did go out for drinks with my girlfriend Paigey after work. I am now fully caught-up on all the gossip...and boy is there some juice!
Seems the trend to disregard the sanctity of marriage vows continues...Cheaters abound, leaving husband's for angry, tattooed fry cooks; baby daddy's continue to indiscriminantly apply their kryptonite-sperm to the unsuspecting;baby-momma's continue to leave their baby daddy's 'cause they won't pay for their boob jobs...the gamut! I am constantly appalled ( and morbidly intrigued) by the Shennanigans (someday I will write a treatise on it) and I always wonder: is it the area I live in? Is it socio-economic? Am I just incredibly old fashioned?
Anyway, this old-fashioned baby momma, had a fantastic weekend with her husband of going on 14 years, and her two brilliant children and I just wanted to take a moment to give thanks for that

Farmer's Market here I come...

So I didn't write anything about it because I didn't want the same buildup/letdown I had from the farmer's market to the south...but last night I "juried" for the farmer's market in the 'burg....and.....they called this morning to say "yes"...surprise surprise surprise!!
It was overall a much more positive jurry process (I actually got to present my merchandise and meet the board - you know, actually a chance to "sell" myself) and the board was quite a bit younger and hopefully "hipper" - ready for my jelly ifyouknowwhuti'msayin'. Who wouldathunk it in the 'burg?!?!
Anyway, that market runs Saturdays starting next Saturday, so wish me luck :) Mike & Madalyn (LGK's parents) will be jurrying next month and hopefully joining me with their ceramics and stained glass (like they did at the Spring fair)

on another note; I don't generally "critique" films. I leave that to folks like Uncle Jeff and Erin, but I must address the emotional state that August Rush left me in. I feel like I just had a week-long crying binge, ate too much chocolate, drank too much coffee and then took a really long nap.
Of course I've always loved that little tragic munchkin Freddie Highmore...and John Rhys Myer's lips are enough of a reason alone to watch a movie...
I'd seen the previews and knew I was in for a pms-inducing experience and was not disappointed at all. If you don't mind a little "schlock" (but as LGK puts it, the right kind of schlock) and sappiness, and you haven't yet...you might want to rent it. The sound editing/musical score is really neat-o (see the little boy hears music in everything - subways, cornfields etc.) oh and did I mention Terence Howard's eyes!?!?! swoon! and even though it was uncomfortable and a bit queezy-making to not adore Robin Williams as the Fagen character - he was excellent, just not entirely likable ( and no, despite what I thought from the previews, he was NOT playing U2's Bono) I'd give it a thumbs up (also worth noting: no potty humor, no profanity and no naughty bits)

Just posted...
now that I'm done with the spring fair I had a chance to get LGK to take some pictures for me so I could post a few of my newer designs on etsy...(I'm quite proud of myself that the only things I still need his help on are the photographs & the poly-eurethane dipping (it makes me wheezy) other than that I'm finally getting quite self-sufficient with my craftiness (I even learned how to pour resin yesterday and I'm getting better with the photo shop! Yay me) anyhow, in celebration of spring...and gardening


For the cat-lovers

and my new favorite design...

more to come....

Spring Fair/Weekend Wrap-up

For your consideration....

Giant Freaking Coyote Puppet!! (We're talking over 20 feet tall! Awesome!)

Green Man & Mother Nature

Max & Molly Up in a Tree on his birthday/Easter Sunday

My lovely display (signage by LGK) Michael's Stained Glass

Molly "manning" the booth

Another lovely shot of Ashley & Molly

Well we just finished up my first craft fair. I'm still "processing" how it went...I vascillate between vaguely disillusioned and optimistic...I had limited expectations so I'm not exactly "disappointed"...sure I would have liked to sell more but it was lots of fun to have more people see my work and I got a lot of smiles & compliments (too bad those don't pay the bills) Some friends came by the fair to visit the booth and I thank them all :) especially the lovely Ashley for her help setting up and pimping my wares.

All in all, I replaced the income that I would have made had I "worked" this weekend so I'm good...and it was a very "educational experience"...there are some things that we'll do differently for the next show; in terms of display/booth set up etc. And I've been confirmed in my belief that the 'burg may not be my ideal venue....I'm definitely shooting for Saturday market in Eugene next year.

Molly was in heaven...she "wandered" the booths all weekend, and never did seem to get bored. She befriended quite a few of the vendors, especially the cactus lady, got her face painted, and watched the juggler (which sparked memories of my first "love" - a professional juggler at the summer art fairs in Albuquerque - I was 12 I think)

Now we're getting ready for the earth day fair, which isn't really a crafting/retail venue but I think it's another good opportunity to get my stuff out there....oh, and I was also "invited" to be in the "Professional Business Women's Art Fair" in November...I also talked to and networked with a lot of folks...found out about some "buyers" shows that I may be interested in..and ate some yummy hippi-made lentil burgers! A good weekend over all :)

Craft-O-Rama

Hey kids, just checking in from frantic-craft-central here at the Klabe-Compound. 37 or so hours until my first "show". Spent much of today trying to flesh-out my inventory...I have a lot of stuff ready, I just don't know how much stuff I "should" have....and of course my mind reels with "what if's"...what if I don't sell anything? What if I sell EVERYTHING and run out of inventory? (dare to dream!) I can't wait to see how it goes...as LGK would say "Adventure! Wee!!!"

As part of this crafty endeavor I've been trying to figure out how to describe/label what I do...on etsy they have teams and tags & labels...and I've perused/explored quite a few of them, in hopes of narrowing down, or defining what makes my jewelry different..(other than the general fabulous-ness of course) and a couple of terms have stuck out. Eco-Chic is my favorite ... (and Ashley's too I think)
And I like "Trashion" but I get funny looks sometimes when I use this term because it may make one think of "trash" (I think that's the point, but so as to not cast a derogatory slant on my merchandise...despite the fact that it IS in fact made from "garbage"...I submit this definition that I found on the etsy-teams page....)

"Trashion ...is about visualizing beauty in unconventional objects and materials. It fabricates art, jewelry, fashion and objects for the home from used, thrown-out & found elements. Trashion is a philosophy and an ethic. It encompasses environmentalism and innovation, and respects the human creative and healing potential. Making traditional objects out of recycled materials can be trashion. Making avant-garde fashion out of cast-offs or junk can be trashion...."

so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

"flyer" me to the moon

This here's the hippie-dippie flyer for the hippie-dippie crafty fair next weekend in the 'burg. There will be crafting & arting...and JUGGLING!!!