Petty Vices

Sleepin' with Nancy

Another nostalgic pillow find on Etsy -- this time from BennyAndHeidi. Its a patchwork quilt pillow with groovy fabrics, and a back covered with a Nancy Drew pattern. Bonus: crochet on the back side; it's like a perfect little bit o' 70's. A headrest to use when curled up with a mystery, a glass of milk and some Oreo cookies <though I suppose a bourbon would  substitute in a pinch>. Maybe in front of the fire with a purring kitty or warm doggie hanging about. I actually have a hard back Nancy Drew book that Amazon mistakenly included in an order of mine, and I didn't have the heart to send it back. I've been meaning to dig into it and see how it reads 30 years later.
 

'Rocket to Russia' Ramones homage

New Zealand indie crafter "Toggle" has a hand crocheted Ramones album pillow available in her Etsy shop, along with some other cool stuff (but this is my fav). I LOVE it! So creative...

Multidimensional poetry

Interesting juxtaposition of words and visuals at Born Magazine -- a non-profit mash-up of sorts that (like so many good things) started in Seattle in the 90s. Their tag line is "art and literature collide"...check it out. FYI: You'll need volume so plan your visit appropriately.

Latest art acquisition...

I recently purchased another little 8.5x11" limited edition pigment print from the glorious 20x200; this one sold out in hours. I think it will go nicely with the other two prints I purchased recently. Now I just have to figure out the best way to frame these little bits of magic and what wall to start decorating with my growing collection.
The one I've just purchased is called Birds of the Pacific Northwest, by artist Laura Levine, who is really quite something.

She's been commissioned to do illustrations for all sorts of amazing publications, including Rolling Stone and the New York Times Magazine.

   

Hat Art

Just discovered an amazing fiber artist named Ana Voog who crochets the most fantastical hats...

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) movies year-round

My sister R got M and I a truly thoughtful and nice gift for xmas -- two SIFF tickets to two movies...not during the festival, but now. We've gone to both and thoroughly enjoyed them. They've inspired us to go to more of these, especially on weeknights because it was so much fun!
The first movie we saw was a "classic" -- Diva -- the 1982 french pop/punk film. Neither of us had seen it and it was fanTAStic. Interesting too, as much of what was being worn etc. seemed of today -- not 25 years ago. Don't know if that means it was way ahead of its time or if we're merely back to the future today.

We also saw a new independent documentary called Billy the Kid, a very touching look at the teenage life of Billy, a 15-year old boy with asperger's. He's a very bright, sweet kid who basically has few filters when it comes to communicating. As he's interested in girls and music and all the regular stuff teens are into, its really something to experience it all through Billy's eyes. M and I walked away thinking that we were just like Billy growing up, we were just a *little* better at knowing what to share vs. what not to share. Billy's openness was often cringe-worthy and emotionally touching simultaneously; if you want to relive some of your awkward years, this will bring you back and make you realize that no matter the affliction, we're really all in this together.

Pile of Paper

An indie crafter with a great business called One Good Bumblebee sells, literally, piles of paper. Essentially they consist of a pack of ephemera culled from all kinds of thrifting and chopping; she cuts used vintage stamps off of old envelopes, for example. I bought a "pile" for my baby sister for Xmas, and as much as I adore giving gifts, I really wanted to keep that one!!

"Accessible" original artwork

I read about a very cool project put together by NYC gallery owner Jane Bekman -- it's called 20x200 and the idea is to offer small (8.5x11) artwork prints in limited editions by up-and-coming artists for twenty dollars. So, an artwork of the small size is in a limited edition of 200, then they also have larger sizes in an edition of 20 for $200, and the largest in an edition of two for $2,000 (out of my range, but I've bought two $20 prints so far). You can sign up for emails showing the latest available (they add works every week). The two little ones I've purchased are copied here (both are sold out now for the little ones).

This one is called Polly, by  artist Christina Muraczewski , and is an archival pigment print

This one is called amnh #30, by artist Joseph O Holmes, and is also an archival pigment print. Oddly, Joseph O Holmes currently  has his work both in NYC in Jane Bekman's gallery, as well as in the WallSpace Gallery in Seattle (my home - small world). Also, just to give you an idea of the amazing bargain you're getting at 20x200 -- a 13x9 piece at wallspace is going for $1,200 (ouch). So not only is it fun to start buying some art, but there's the possibility that you're making an investment while you're at it...pretty slick.   

Fancy Schmancy Cakes & Chocolates

You know all those trendy chocolates with the designs on them that look so cool? I've wondered how they managed to make them look like that, nevermind bakery cakes with chocolate "icing" wraps...well, I was looking for red & white pastry twine, like the kind that Mike's Pastry in Boston's North End (the best Little Italy in the U.S., IMHO) uses...<random, I know -- do yourself a favor and order a dozen cannoli's...they're the BEST>...and in the process came across a site with chocolate transfer paper. Not knowing what that might be, I curiously did some surfing looking for information, when I came across another site selling all kinds of it and providing instructions. Here's a pic of a cake using the sheets:

Who knew? Pretty slick, though.  Check out all the  transfer sheets they have -- its amazing.

A quick bottle-neck

V.fun quick little knit bottle neck/gift tag...er...thingie...on KnitSonya. Check it out.

Needs:

Small amount of worsted weight yarn held double - Rowan Kid Classic
US size 10 (6.0 mm) double point needles
Gift tag

Cast on 12 stitches. Join round, being careful not to twist. Knit 9 rounds even. Round 10 *knit 4 sts, increase twice (make 1 increase) repeat two more times to end of round. Knit 3 rounds even, then bind of loosely. Don't cut yarn, with 2 stitches remaining, knit an 8 inch length of i-cord. Bind off, thread end through gift tag, then tack down and weave in ends.