Jan 20
Personal, Photography, Travel Costa Rica, I'm off to go gecko hunting., Pura Vida, this country is so beautiful I can't stand it 1 Comment
I have had the great good fortune to travel to Costa Rica. We’re on our second day here, and I’m already in love with this country. It is so full of color and life–it’s a place that makes me want to write, to create. For now I’m off to bed, but here are a few images from the trip so far. See more on Flickr.
Sep 13
Photography credit where due, School is the bestest thing ever, sweat and the great outdoors 2 Comments
A month between posts is not how blogging is done. But then, I like to break the rules every now and then. And thinks have been busy. The move is more or less complete, and I’m back to school for my last year in the program. Gasp! It’s almost all over and I can’t quite believe it. Now I have to figure out what to do next.
Speaking of next, on the top of my list is figuring out my wordpress blog and getting myself back into blogging. Expect random bits and pieces here as I try to reenter the habit over the next few weeks. Like the above photo (the title of which is the same as this blog title), from a photo walk with Miss Emily. You should check her out her blog. She’s crafty, creative, and has one heck of an eye for photography.
For now I must away to write an analysis of the book project I just completed. Hooray homework. Seriously.
Aug 09
Fiber Arts, Photography baby poop, interesting method of anger management, it’s just a flesh wound, needle felting 2 Comments
I’ve wanted to try needle felting for quite some time, but I’ve been slow to get around to it. I purchased a bag of mixed wool samples at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival back in May, and I’ve poked around trying to find felting needles ever since with no luck. I also contemplated attempting to sew my own throw pillow to needle felt, but was intimidated by the directions (I want to sew, but I think I should only attempt one new craft at a time if I’m to avoid total dejection at my newbie-ness).
This weekend I finally got around to buying a cheap throw pillow, and as luck would have it I met up with Miss Emily for lunch and she was kind enough to loan me her felting needles. I sat down last night with wool, throw pillow, and needles, and threw caution to the wind. The process is simple. Take wool, place it on pillow in general shape you want (I went with circles cause it seemed easy), then start stabbing the wool with your needle. Repeat over and over and over.
In an impressive display of dexterity, I only stabbed myself once. I’m pretty pleased with the results, though if I had it to do over I’d get rid of the nasty greenish brown spot (baby poop, anyone?). This is definitely something I’ll continue to explore, and I’m looking into buying my own set of needles.
Aug 02
New Mexico, Photography, Travel viva new mexico, yucca yucca yucca No Comments
Ave and I are in New Mexico this weekend for his friend’s wedding celebration. It’s reminding me how much I love it here. The colors, the smells, the weather. It just feels right.
Jul 21
Baltimore, Photography having my cake and loving it too, sweet freedom, the crowd in his sunglasses 1 Comment
I’ve got tires that grab the road…
Got to see Cake this weekend at Artscape. It was fantastic. More from me later (when I’m not perilously close to being late for work), as I’m officially out of school!
Jul 15
Bookmaking, Photography, Poetry a serious sense of accomplishment, i am so sleeping in this weekend, time to take a breath 5 Comments
Summer school is about to come to a close. My independent study ended comfortably if rather unceremoniously today, and tomorrow I will turn in my final project for the book design class. It’s been an incredibly stressful eight weeks (and I’ve had the migraines and break outs to prove it), but it was worth it, and, better yet, it’s all but over.
First a quick recap:
I designed three books, the last of which is being flattened under my mattress as we speak. As I look back over my work throughout the class, I can really see that I’ve made strides even in so short a time. My final book is a collection of poems I wrote around the time I moved out to New Mexio. I had collected them all into a chapbook called Changing Weather which I never did anything with (not entirely true, I did submit it to a chapbook contest judged by Densie Duhamel, which I obviously did not win). I’ve mixed the poems with photos I took both in Missouri and New Mexico to really help convey the landscapes that the piece revolves around. I don’t know that it’s the best writing or even the greatest photos, but I’m gosh darn proud of myself. Here’s the cover and a couple interior spreads:
My independent study gave me an opportunity to really pursue my interest in experimental writing, and I read 2.5 novels (House of Leaves, you beast, I will finish you yet!), too many poems to count, and a few whatsits in between. I also wrote regularly (and more than usual), which was good.
And looking forward:
Ave and I will be making a trip to New Mexico at the end of the month for a celebration of his friend’s wedding. I’m so looking forward to seeing everyone and being back in a place I love.
As for the rest of the summer, I intend to take regular walks, reacquaint myself with my camera, do some serious reading, and try to keep up the writing. It’s not much, but it’s all I need.
Jul 08
Photography anticipation of sloth, i heart cliches, so close to done, who needs a fortune teller when you’ve got the book seer No Comments
I’m coming into the homestretch on summer classes and though it’s been a real doozy so far I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (how many cliche phrases can I use to describe this?). But seriously, things have been busy. On top of my typical work schedule (which is always always always hectic), there’s been the book design class, the independent study on experimental writing, a visit from my brother, helping Avelino’s mom move to her beautiful new house, planning an unexpected but more than welcome trip to New Mexico at the end of the month, and an unexpected and unwelcome cold/sore throat. I’ve enjoyed it all (except the being sick part), but am looking forward to my first week of laziness and nothing to do after work.
I’ll be back and blogging once my classroom obligations are fulfilled, but in the meantime, here are a couple fun things I’ve discovered in the past few weeks:
1. Harper Collins’ Fifty-Two Stories, a story a week for a whole year. They’ve got 27 up so far, a mix of classic and contemporary. (Via Neil Gaiman’s Twitter feed. He’s @neilhimself).
2. The Book Seer, a fun little web project where you input the name and author of the last book you read and it gives you recommendations for others.
And now I must away to work.
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