1. And here’s Boris, a sock monkey that I made for a friend. She loves the Who, so I thought I’d try doing something with an iron on. I’m pleased with the results.

    And here’s Boris, a sock monkey that I made for a friend. She loves the Who, so I thought I’d try doing something with an iron on. I’m pleased with the results.

  2. Sorry for the extended absence. Crazy days lately. I’ve been creating, though. Here is a frog that I made - I don’t absolutely love him, but he’ll do. Just something different to try.

    Sorry for the extended absence. Crazy days lately.

    I’ve been creating, though. Here is a frog that I made - I don’t absolutely love him, but he’ll do. Just something different to try.

  3. Tuesday Playlist (4/27/10)

    It’s time for the Tuesday Playlist again! Each week, I highlight new music from 2010, with links so you can listen to free and legal versions of each.

    11. She & Him - Thieves

    I’m crazy about this album. Zoey Deschanel’s voice is so wonderful. I just want to sing every song from this album along with her. Total warm fuzzies.

    12. Tobacco (with Beck) - Fresh Hex

    It’s a short song, but so fabulous.

    13. Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs - Dearly Departed

    I didn’t think I would like their new album at first, but as I listened, it definitely grew on me. It felt like something that came straight out of the Appalachians, and there’s some real old-timey influence happening here. Definitely give the album a shot if you like this tune.

    14. Monster Movie - A Place in the Mountains

    They remind me of Depeche Mode, and although I didn’t find most of their newest album Everyone Is a Ghost all that memorable, I thought the final song, “A Place in the Mountains” was all kinds of nice. It’d be great for a soundtrack.

    15. Peter Wolf (with Neko Case) - The Green Fields of Summer

    I was not really expecting big things from Peter Wolf’s album, Midnight Souvenirs. Generally, I’m pretty skeptical of any music from ’80s artists who have the appearance of recapturing glory days, but the former front man for the J Geils Band really delivers something special here. The album has a misstep or two, but it’s mostly just a fine album of ballads. And this tune, where he partners with Neko Case of the New Pornographers, is just lovely.

    16. Kaki King - Falling Day

    She’s been called a guitar virtuoso, and Kaki King certainly has plenty of talent on display on her newest album. I’ve heard this song numerous times, and I like it a little bit more with each listen. I suspect that the album, Junior, is a grower.

    17. Shooter Jennings & Hierophant - Triskaidekaphobia

    What do I say about Shooter and Hierophant’s album, Black Ribbons? It is ambitious, to be sure. I’d call it prog-rock with some form of country flair thrown in, along with narration by Stephen King (it’s true). You’d have to hear this to make your own call about it, but it’s going to be a love it or hate it album, I think. It’s very strange but I found it deeply engaging. It was tough to pick just one song, but Triskaidekaphobia was the one I wrote down.

    18. Rufus Wainwright - Give Me What I Want and Give It to Me Now

    I very much like Rufus Wainwright, but his melancholy piano songs start to wear thin after a little while. I understand the reasons for the sadness on this album (All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu) - his mother had recently passed away, but there’s a monotony to it. With that said, Give Me What I Want and Give It to Me Now is a swell little tune.

    19. Blur - Fool’s Day

    Yay! Blur’s back. What more do I need to say? Go get this song from their website. Now.

    20. Blair - Hello Halo

    This song gets stuck in my head at the most inopportune times. It’s breathy and dreamy.
  4. I’m not entirely sure what he is. I was watching some Miyazaki while I made him (Howl’s Moving Castle in this case), so I drew some sort of inspiration from that. I’ve called him Kakashi and I think he’s a bear. He’s very soft.

    I’m not entirely sure what he is. I was watching some Miyazaki while I made him (Howl’s Moving Castle in this case), so I drew some sort of inspiration from that. I’ve called him Kakashi and I think he’s a bear. He’s very soft.

  5. This is Sophie (or she is for now, anyway - I made her for a friend who is making me a banner for my future Etsy store so she can call her whatever she likes). Obviously, she’s another mini-pig. These are so fun to make - the next one I do I swear will be some color other than pink. (I like pink, though.)

    This is Sophie (or she is for now, anyway - I made her for a friend who is making me a banner for my future Etsy store so she can call her whatever she likes). Obviously, she’s another mini-pig. These are so fun to make - the next one I do I swear will be some color other than pink. (I like pink, though.)

  6. Tuesday Playlist

    I’ve been devouring 2010 music with a ravenous hunger, and thought it might be fun to start dedicating Tuesdays to sharing playlists with my favorite songs from the various albums I’ve heard. Look for this feature to recur weekly (until I get bored of it, anyway). I’ll even try to provide links where you can listen free.

    1) Vampire Weekend - California English
    Although I don’t like Contra as much as I did their first album, I still find Vampire Weekend to be compulsively listenable. This is a boppy song that gives me a lot of joy. It’s not deep or substantial, really, but it is pleasing.

    2) Peter Gabriel - The Boy in the Bubble
    Full disclosure: Peter Gabriel is my favorite singer. I think So is the single greatest album ever created. Thus, I was eagerly anticipating his record of covers this year, and I did not come away disappointed. I chose “The Boy in the Bubble” for this list because I remember back when So and Paul Simon’s Graceland were competing for the Grammy, I was pissed that Graceland won (even though it’s a great album, too). Now, here we are with Peter covering a song from that album and giving it an entirely different mood.  Wonderful. (The link will take you to Gabriel’s MySpace page, and the song is available in the player.)

    3) Backyard Tire Fire - Brady
    This band is from my hometown, and I might not really know them if my brother-in-law wasn’t currently playing with them on their tour. Regardless, they’re a band worth knowing and I’d love to see them break out with some bigger success. (The link will take you to the band’s MySpace page, and the song is available in the player.)

    4) Johnny Cash - Ain’t No Grave (MySpace link)
    One of the earliest singers I can remember listening to is Johnny Cash. I’d play “Ring of Fire” over and over and over again. Even though he’s no longer with us, the music continues and he had another album in the American series released this year. This song is right up there with the greatness of “The Man Comes Around” and provides a nice bookend for that tune, too.

    5) EELS - Little Bird (MySpace link)
    I was a bit underwhelmed by their newest album, End Times, but I do really enjoy this song. Part of it is because my sister calls her daughter “Little Bird,” but mostly it’s because it’s a tune I enjoy hearing again and again.

    6) Magnetic Fields - You Must Be Out of Your Mind (MySpace link)
    Realism is my favorite album of 2010, I think. I’ve listened to the album a lot, and this particular song is the one that makes me want to hit repeat. Kind of a mean little tune, but I often like mean little tunes.

    7) Beach House - Zebra (MySpace link)
    Beach House’s Teen Dream is another of my 2010 favorites, and here’s a song that really speaks to me. Part of it is because I was making a zebra when I had the song in heavy rotation, but it’s more than that. Sometimes, music just hits you at exactly the right time, and this is a case of perfect timing.

    8) Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Company (YouTube link)
    Okay, okay. Here’s yet another favorite album. I’ll stop with the gushing soon, I swear. Have One on Me is an ambitious, unique, sprawling three-disc set full of original, ethereal songs. I can’t get enough of “Good Intentions Paving Company.” You should listen to it right now.

    9) Midlake - Acts of Man (MySpace link)
    I’m not even sure how to describe Midlake. They are assuredly not going to be for everyone. On a different day, I don’t think they’d be for me, either. The album, The Courage of Others, is like some freaky dark fantasy, with lots of unexpected sounds and songs in weird minor keys. It’s gloomy stuff. But something about it speaks to me.

    10) The Bird and the Bee - Kiss on My List (MySpace link)
    An entire album of Hall and Oates covers? How ridiculous! Except…Hall and Oates provide me with great guilty pleasure music and The Bird and the Bee’s Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates is inspired. I could listen over and over again, and had real trouble picking the song I liked the best. My only great disappointment is that they did not cover “You Make My Dreams.” Thus, I went with my second favorite song by the duo themselves.
  7. I had a little strange inspiration and wanted to do a goth/punk monkey. This notion led to Vic, who obviously likes skulls and has a stud earring. I was thinking of selling him, but oddly, the sock I used has a bit of an issue with the polyfill coming out so I think he’s going to stay with me. I might find a better black (or gray) sock and see if we can’t do a similar chap to put on Etsy.

    I had a little strange inspiration and wanted to do a goth/punk monkey. This notion led to Vic, who obviously likes skulls and has a stud earring. I was thinking of selling him, but oddly, the sock I used has a bit of an issue with the polyfill coming out so I think he’s going to stay with me. I might find a better black (or gray) sock and see if we can’t do a similar chap to put on Etsy.

  8. Closer detail on Giselle, a recent creation and a planned gift for my sister.

    Closer detail on Giselle, a recent creation and a planned gift for my sister.

  9. This is Giselle, a monkey I created for my sister, who is a former ballerina. It’s being sent tomorrow, so hopefully she’ll love it!

    This is Giselle, a monkey I created for my sister, who is a former ballerina. It’s being sent tomorrow, so hopefully she’ll love it!

  10. Today I finished Lucky Cat. This was my first attempt at face stitching, and I think I need more practice. He’s very happy, which gives me warm fuzzies.

    Today I finished Lucky Cat. This was my first attempt at face stitching, and I think I need more practice. He’s very happy, which gives me warm fuzzies.

  11. Over the past couple of days, I’ve still had plenty of creative activity happening. On Tuesday, I worked on creating a Lucky Cat, and the same went for yesterday, were I did some face stitching (something new for me). Today, along with doing the regular Survivor recap, I wrote a movie column about my recent experience watching Robert Altman’s MASH and made a happy space for myself in my work cubicle. I can look at it and know it’s a temporary respite from the grind.  As a result of having my little pigs in the spot, I’ve arranged a creative swap with a friend. Since I want to start an Etsy store to sell some creatures, she’ll make me a banner if I create her a pig. So that’s a done deal, which makes me happy. I’m not that fond of the banner I created (it was just on the fly) and I’m sure she can do something better. Now, on to finish Lucky Cat!

    Over the past couple of days, I’ve still had plenty of creative activity happening. On Tuesday, I worked on creating a Lucky Cat, and the same went for yesterday, were I did some face stitching (something new for me). Today, along with doing the regular Survivor recap, I wrote a movie column about my recent experience watching Robert Altman’s MASH and made a happy space for myself in my work cubicle. I can look at it and know it’s a temporary respite from the grind. 

    As a result of having my little pigs in the spot, I’ve arranged a creative swap with a friend. Since I want to start an Etsy store to sell some creatures, she’ll make me a banner if I create her a pig. So that’s a done deal, which makes me happy. I’m not that fond of the banner I created (it was just on the fly) and I’m sure she can do something better.

    Now, on to finish Lucky Cat!

  12. My creative activity today is…making a list of creative things I want to do! Hey, it’s important to have a plan, and I’m putting it into action. Lots of times, I have all these great ideas, but I totally forget them within an hour. Not today! I’m carrying around a little note pad and writing them down as they come up. Thus, you’ll probably see me repeat this activity fairly regularly. Creativity To Do List: 1. Make a tiny terrarium2. Get a fern for Billy’s room (to join the Amaryllis!)3. Watercolor painting4. Work on my ukulele playing5. Learn to crochet6. Make a Lucky Cat7. Work on creative space (main home area)8. Work on creative space (small work reminder area)9. Cuteopolis

    My creative activity today is…making a list of creative things I want to do! Hey, it’s important to have a plan, and I’m putting it into action. Lots of times, I have all these great ideas, but I totally forget them within an hour. Not today! I’m carrying around a little note pad and writing them down as they come up. Thus, you’ll probably see me repeat this activity fairly regularly.

    Creativity To Do List:

    1. Make a tiny terrarium
    2. Get a fern for Billy’s room (to join the Amaryllis!)
    3. Watercolor painting
    4. Work on my ukulele playing
    5. Learn to crochet
    6. Make a Lucky Cat
    7. Work on creative space (main home area)
    8. Work on creative space (small work reminder area)
    9. Cuteopolis

  13. Backwoods Design and the Art of a Doo Nanny»

    Because I think it’s pretty important to remember the things that inspire us from day the day and the reflections they produce, I’m going to make a bit more of an effort to make note of the stuff I see throughout the day that makes me think, “How did they do that? What made this “thing” even occur to this person?”

    In the case of this post, I’m particularly fascinated by Butch Anthony’s “intertwangleism,” but the entire cabin is amazing. How much would I love to be in a place that fostered creativity such as this one. It makes me really want to do some things in the room where I do most of my creative work.

  14. Away, but still creating I haven’t had the gumption to do a daily post, but at the least, I’ve been creating daily. I’ve finished the monkey for my sister’s gift (photos to come - I’m waiting for the tutu she will be wearing in the mail, so she’s technically *almost* complete) and she’s wonderfully adorable.  I also wrote two columns (that counts) and tried my hand at creating some little piglets. I’m calling them Poppy and Posy. Next up, I’m going to see if I can make a Lucky Cat.

    Away, but still creating

    I haven’t had the gumption to do a daily post, but at the least, I’ve been creating daily. I’ve finished the monkey for my sister’s gift (photos to come - I’m waiting for the tutu she will be wearing in the mail, so she’s technically *almost* complete) and she’s wonderfully adorable. 

    I also wrote two columns (that counts) and tried my hand at creating some little piglets. I’m calling them Poppy and Posy. Next up, I’m going to see if I can make a Lucky Cat.

  15. Work, work, work

    For the past couple of days, I’ve been involved in some training with my corporate office, which has meant that creativity has been stifled. I’m sure that’s not their plan and hope, but oh well. On Monday, I worked a bit on my sister’s monkey, while yesterday I did an exercise in This Is Not a Book. So the good news is that I’m not licked! How about a haiku?

    Crocodile laughter
    Much better than tears, I think
    Unless he’s hungry 

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Dedicated to one act of creativity every day in 2010.

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