Good Reads

I just finished reading Freakonomics, an incredibly interesting look at the data that make up our lives. For instance, trends in naming children and the implications of those names, or the economic hierarchy of urban drug dealers. Interesting, if fairly random, things.

Perhaps the real point of the book is to encourage the asking of questions - why is such and such the way it is? How does it compare to something radically different and what can we learn from the similarities and differences between the two?


I have always enjoyed watching people - not in a creepy way, at least I don't think so! I am just curious about how people are, how we interact. This is most likely one of the reasons I am so interested in making dolls. The author of this book has a similar curiousity, although at a much more complex and advanced level. As a curious person, I am fascinated at the conclusions an extensively inquisitive mind can deduce, it is very reassuring and quite inspiring.


I say this all as something of a disclaimer: if you catch me studying you over my boyfriends shoulder at the coffee shop, don't think I'm some sort of floozy trying to pull one over on him. I am just wondering what the pin on your jacket says, and if it has anything to do with the paper at which you are so furiously scribbling...



Seriously though, read the book.

Hillarity!

If you enjoy laughing, I highly recommend you hurry to the nearest movie theatre and take in the new Michel Gondry film: Be Kind Rewind." Pure happiness, I'm telling you.

Big Storm for Real!

So after my pish-poshing of the Big Winter Storm last evening, I woke up to discover that it, well, it was real after all. More than six inches overnight, and falling steadily. Did I take that opportunity to stay warm in my little house and play with my crazy dog and generally get things done? I should say not! I am, lets not forget, a Northerner. And that means I am not a sissy!


I braved the elements and the longish, unplowed driveway at my work, and was Responsible and Professional all day. It is my belief that if one is going to live in the North, one must learn to not be frightened by the snow. Nothing would Get Done. That said, I think I am ready for a warmer climate.





(more paper doll postcards are on the way. I am very excited!!!)

Big Storm!

Actually, it isn't even snowing that hard. But the weather people are calling it a Winter Storm, and I am more than happy to comply. Especially since I have several new dolls in the works.



Plus a puppy who just wants to play!

Résumé

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

Don't worry, this isn't my own state of mind. I just watched "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" and now I am enthralled with Dorothy Parker. She had the same dry humor as Oscar Wilde and Mae West, that sort of blunt commentary that surprises and startles. Is sardonic the word I am looking for?

I often have trouble with poetry; I think I have been a speedy reader for so long that my eyes skip lines and do not read carefully enough to understand most poetry. I lose patience and move on. This is a bit embarrassing to admit, but the poems I really enjoy are Edward Lear's limericks and Lewis Carroll's nonsense poems. Oh, and all of A.A. Milne. So perhaps it is Parker's rhythm and rhyming that draw me in. Although, once there, I think it is the surprising off-beat-ness of the rhythm and her playful manipulation of the words that hold my attention. She is so deliciously dark, and her poetry makes me believe she relished in that darkness.

Oscar Night

I really have nothing to say about it though. Fun to watch - I especially love Jon Stewart and the clips of past winners. And thats about that for that. I'd like to thank the academy...

While I'm here, this was the sunset over Lake Champlain this evening. So nice.

My Week in Review

dear old friends visiting ::: LOTS of yummy food! ::: balmy warmth, rain and the smell of Spring ::: a day off! ::: waffles and molasses ::: back to work ::: dishes? nah ::: ok, laundry ::: clean socks!!! ::: Bright sunny mornings ::: long shadows in the evening sun ::: a red barn glowing in the orange light ::: long traumatic car ride with the pup - for all of 15 minutes ::: and home again in great pain - hers was physical, mine emotional ::: let's hope she didn't have her heart set on puppies ::: great meeting with a wonderful writer ::: exciting new project! ::: sleep? ...

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Cam!

Paperdoll Postcards and Mail for You!

New in my shop! I am very excited about these, they have been on my mind for a while and it is very satisfying to have the completed product in my hands.

The items in question are Paperdoll Postcards! A sweet shy little girl paperdoll and four outfits on a beautiful soft gloss postcard. The doll is inspired by a vintage sewing pattern illustration, hand-drawn and digitally colored.



I have a long love of paperdolls. My mom had a terrific collection from when she was a child, and I collected and made my own as well. The Dover Publications catalog was highly anticipated in the mail, and the Tom Tierneypaperdoll books were my absolute favorites. Recently I remembered how much I always loved Tierney's work, and I looked him up online and sent him a note. His niece replied with a very nice message and I was as excited as some people might be upon getting Obama's autograph!

So anyway, all this rambling to tell you about my cards! I am obviously fairly excited, and I would really like to share! So leave a comment here with an email address, or send me your address in an email (make the subject line "paperdoll postcard"), and I will pop one of these cuties in the mail to you!

Good night my friends!

Extreme Baking

About a week ago I developed a craving for chocolate cupcakes, particularly of a home made variety. There is something of a time lapse around here, so the baking didn't happen until last evening. I thought I would document the process with some lovely kitchen + homey photos to share here, but as it turned out - they came out fairly dull. So I messed around a bit, and came up with a series I like to call "Extreme Baking".

Allow me to illustrate...






Yum.

For the Sweet

First, I want to apologize for the spotty appearances here lately - it seems that working full time with a 40 minute commute is more of an adjustment than I had anticipated, and these days when I get home I mainly want to do nothing. That said, there are a few projects in the works. But more on those another day, today I want to share these...




I had planned to wait and post them as a Valentine's greeting to you all, but this post inspired me to share ahead of time, with the idea that you can then share as well!

Click below or on the images for 8.5"x11" sheets with two copies of the card each (minus the red border, thats just for you), inside and outside. You will have to flip the first page around and re-feed it through the printer (unless you have one of the fancy auto-double-sided deals!). I recommend printing on white card stock, but suit yourself! FYI, I did some at Kinkos, and the colors they produced were just loverly.

Valentine Card Outside
Valentine Card Inside