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This has got to be the best idea I have ever seen for pumpkins- well, with the exception of pie, of course!
Click on the photo for more info and how to .
Happy Halloween!
In between working on different projects I signed up for the placemat swap again- I set aside some time to work on it today.
I posted some sneak peeks over at Flickr- I like how it's coming together.
I enjoy staying home and working the day away- it goes by fast and before I know it- there's the Mr Husband and it's time for dinner.
There are just not enough hours in the day!!!
I'm almost finished and then I'll show it after my swap partner has received it.
Hope you had a great day too!
xo,
calamity kim
A gypsy fire is on the hearth,
Sign of the carnival of mirth;
Through the dun fields and from the glade
Flash merry folk in masquerade,
For this is Halloween!
Thank you to my Sister who sent me the cutest Halloween card!
Also Happy Birthday to her today!
Wishing you many, many more!
Scary, huh?
I was Googling French Circus Images and found this work by Kathy Ruttenberg. At first I thought it was paper but it is really made from clay. Check out her website and be sure to look at the Macy's Window- it will blow you away!
Isn't it funny how we put things in categories and then attach value to them based on their composition? Paper doesn't last as long as clay but I could imagine these "sculptures" as dolls made from cloth or felt just as easily. Why aren't they still sculptures then? Surely taking flat cloth and using it to create a 3 dimensional form is just as wondrous and magical as using clay and fire to bring about the same object. Cloth can rot and mildew. Pottery lasts so much longer.
I think that Kathy Ruttenberg has talent beyond any words I could possibly string together to lay a mantle of praise around her shoulders.
I am smitten.
oh, the calamity...
There might still be time to make some paper mache pumpkins if you go to Stolloween and learn how. He somehow makes it look easy And scary too!
Happy Halloween!
Beware the Full Moon....
calamity kim
The first wish would be to go to New York and see the retrospective of Tim Burton's work at the Museum of Modern Art.
Tim Burton. Untitled (The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories). 1982–84. Pen and ink, marker, and colored pencil on paper, 10 x 9" (25.4 x 22.9 cm). Private collection. © 2009 Tim Burton
It runs from Nov 22, 2009 to April 26, 2010. Check out the MOMA website for more info.
My second wish would be to go get this month's Harper's Bazaar magazine which has a spread photographed by Tim Walker celebrating Tim's darkly delightful style.
Corpse bride.
Cape, $4,998, and gown, $10,000, Ralph Lauren Collection.
Shutterbugs and scissor hands.
Left: Coat, by special order, Salvatore Ferragamo. 212-759-3822. Dress, $3,455, and shoes, $815, Tao Comme des Garçons. 212-604-9200. Right: Jacket, $3,795, and gloves, $1,400, Rodarte. Bergdorf Goodman; 212-753-7300. Pants, $2,995, Phi. 877-354-9100. Boots, $3,500, Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte. Barneys New York; 888-8-BARNEYS.
The third wish would be to have a copy of Tim Walkers book.
I love his visionary approach to fashion photography.
Does he make the props? Could you imagine getting that commission? Umm, you want a 10 ft white glove?
Did he cut out the silhouettes? Does he dream these images first?
I would love to help create those kinds of sets. Plaster everything , I say!!!
If only I had 3 wishes.
if only.
happy weekend!
happy Tim x 2 celebration!
"Dream on it. Let your mind take you to places you would like to go, and then think about it and plan it and celebrate the possibilities. And don't listen to anyone who doesn't know how to dream." ~ Liza Minnelli
As this morning dawns with new and infinite possibilities, I sit here and wonder what I can accomplish in the next 12 or 14 hours. I have so many things that could be finished, or revisited. I have so much wonderful fabric waiting to become something new.
This time of year when the air begins to cool and rumors of The Great Pumpkin are whispers on the wind, I start pulling out my Halloween collection.
There are witches and skulls. Cats and bats. Spiders on fake cupcakes and spooky music in the background (thank you Amanda). I love Fall and was blessed by a friend (thank you Sara) who took some time and wrapped red and changing leaves and acorns and other signs of the season up and mailed them to me! Poor mountain girl like me down here in the flat lands with narry a sweet maple tree in sight! So sad...no Fall for Kimmie.
I can't believe it's October 22. Where has the year gone? Flown off like a witch on a new broom! I was supposed to list some cupcakes in Etsy- maybe tomorrow or even later today I can get that done.
It seems there are not enough hours in the day to get it all done. No matter how early I rise or late I stay up! I guess we all have that problem, don't we? Too much we have to do and then add in what we want to do! But some days you get lucky and there is nothing to do except what you want and it's w i d e open!!! The freedom of possibility.
Morning light reflecting off punches waiting to be busy.
Knowing that I want to play with some fabric is a step in the right direction and I walk into my sewing room, greeted at the door by Dracula (painted by the Crafty Hag) and looking at my new extension table for Bernice Bernina, I can hardly wait to make something!
I ordered it from the Bernina dealer in Tampa and they were kind enough to mail it- I have been too busy to drive up. I also purchased a quilting foot. Next I need a walking foot and I will be good to go!
This Gothic Prairie by Jane Sassaman is calling my name and I think I see a bag in its future...speaking of gypsies and fortune telling (what a segue) have you seen any trailers for The Wolfman with Sir Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving and Benicio Del Toro? It's not out until Feb 2010.
I hope it will be good. I have such a fondness for the original. Waiting is so difficult but if my days stay as busy as they have been, it will be here before I know it!
OK, little calamity readers, I am going to go find something to do...don't be afraid...the moon won't be full until Nov 2nd!
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim
Thanks to my friend Jude I found out about Hand/Eye Online magazine and am so glad I subscribed to it. There is an article about Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin company that I found interesting. Remember I blogged about her book? Well, I am happy to report that she has another book on the way (I am adding it to my wish list) that is titled Alabama Studio Style.
Due out March 2010, and chock-full of recipes for food, gorgeous photography and livin' that Alabama style, I simply can not wait!
Here is a link to the Alabama Chanin Journal that has wonderful links to books, DIY stuff, green living and interesting info on Alabama Chanin life.
If you don't have time to read it all now then bookmark it for later because it will give you droplets of joy and splashes of happiness once you wade in and swim around in it.
If you are unfamiliar with her style I suggest you beg, borrow or steal a copy of Alabama Stitch Book and read all about it. Designing, cutting and then using stencils to create a design on knit fabric, then stitching down the layers and cutting off a layer to reveal the under fabric is what it is all about. I tried it- only once, due to the amount of time it took. I love reverse applique but the knit fabric handles differently than 100% cotton and I need to revisit this technique again and give it another try.
Wandering back to the sewing room, a pleasantly creative day ahead of me. I will get photos and share if anything new develops.
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim
I collect baby shoes.
Not every baby shoe, but mostly mary jane's or leather shoes that show some wear.
I have used them to make patterns and sometimes sew felted wool in to
tiny replicas from those patterns. I can't find a picture but when I do I'll add it here.
Martha Stewart has a nice PDF pattern template here that you can download and use. Here are the directions too for using her pattern.
If you love little sweet baby shoes with a dash of creativity you might want to check out the Etsy Shop Rubblearium which sells digital prints (and downloads) of adorable baby shoes and fairy gowns made from interesting and unusual materials by Catherine McEver.
I love the Wonder Bread shoe
and I really love the lettuce shoe
The baby shoe print made from sewing pattern tissue is nice.
It would look really great in my sewing room, don't ya think?
She has quite a few others that are fashioned from astro turf or bologna and you should use this link to go see them for yourselves.
I should also like to point out her embroidered Wonder Bread and give it points for originality and workmanship- that couldn't be easy- embroidering on bread!
and don't forget the fairy clothes- which is evidence that they do exist in my opinion!
I was thinking about taking baby steps this week and that's why I am sharing this. I hope to get back to a normal schedule again soon. I have spent a lot of time lately helping a dear friend move and working on Guild projects and a few other top secret projects. The weather has been delightful the past few days and I am enjoying the coolness and lack of humidity more than I can describe.
In fact I want to go for a walk and enjoy this new and refreshing morning. It's only 53!!!! Can you imagine? I can't! Not after last weeks sweltering 97 degrees in the shade!
Wow!
This seems almost like heaven!
Love & Stitches,
Calamity Kim
Just home from seeing Where the Wild Things Are and it's still running through my mind, like Max, the wild rumpus continues.
You know it isn't for kids...not small kids...they were bored and walking around looking up at the adults engrossed in the story...several grannies sat in front of us and discussed scenes and crackled bags of candy...James Gandolfini provides the voice of Carol and it was OK, but I could imagine Tony Soprano hiding behind a tall pine, ready to jump out and hand me a lincoln log sandwich.
The story is good and I am still feeling sad and alone as I write this, so compelling was Max and his imaginary world. I found this website titled We Love You So from the makers of the movie and it's awesome. I loved the Andy Goldworthy type twig/tree sphere nest/houses. I want to go build a fort in the living room.
The young boy who plays Max (brilliantly) is also named Max in real life and what a happy coincidence that must have been for the casting agent.
I wish that everyone in my family could see this movie, but that won't happen.
I wish they could come to realize, just as Max and I have, that no matter how perfectly you build your home there will always be someone who doesn't get enough attention, is angry and out of control, will always try to tear it down, all the while saying they love you so much they could eat you up.
Maybe all families are this way.
Maybe everyone has a lonely childhood.
Maybe everyone gets disappointed.
Maybe we all survive.
Maybe having a dirt bomb fight would help solve some problems.
Maybe this movie will become a lesson in how to understand and cope with the people in our own families filled with monsters.
Maybe.
This is one of my all time favorite prints. I first saw it as a colored poster at a shop called Elysian Fields. I searched for it for a long time whenever I was in a museum gift shop or looking through art books of old paintings hoping to find it there.
Now, it can be found online and I even have a small rubber stamp of it.
I wanted to share this site called Vintage Printables with you just in case you need an excellent resource for free vintage images.
There are old bats- just right click on the picture and chose save as to download.
There are images in color categories like this one- RED!
There are many images of butterflies and mushrooms and all sorts of botanicals.
There are maps, even one in the shape of a heart.
I found it and knew it was too great not to share. I am not real crazy about the pop up viewers on the site but it is worth the nuisance to have the lovely vintage images.
I went to see Bright Star yesterday with a friend and loved it so much. It was sad but the costumes were lovely and the opening scenes are of a needle making stitches in cloth. It is playing at an old theater here- Burns Court, which is small and narrow with a small screen- indie art movies and foreign films are what you get when you go there. It seems fitting to see a period piece there and the last movie I saw there was about Beatrix Potter. Another movie that made me cry. Pack your tissues but don't miss Bright Star if it's available where you are. Love, it's all about the love. Sweet, innocent, romantic love.
All right- I am off to Picasso Moon for another great day learning to spin ply- two yarns together! Yippee!
Have a great weekend!
Don't go batty!
Or maybe since Halloween is on its way, you should go batty! I know I am!
Gotta run!
xo, calamity kim
Trying to sell wool in Florida is like selling bags of ice in Alaska!
Debra and I set up the booth last Sunday in St Pete with help from our friend Elizabeth and as our sweat was sweating in the 95 degree heat we tried to have hopeful thoughts about selling stuff and meeting new folks. It seemed to be a slllllllooooowww start but we were still anticipating the "after church crowds".
I had some chiffon and tulle flowers on display.
As well as a million fake cupcakes and witches and sock monster aliens.
Neither Esmeralda or Hazel Bitterthorn were impressed with the lackluster turnout. They wished they had stayed home where it was comfortable and cool.
This crazy chick was absurdly happy all day though. Maybe it was her location next to whimsical handspun yarn with silk flowers by Cathy Snider.
Or these delightful cotton candy batts of wool fiber for spinning made by Kim Perkins.
Even the mermaids were hot!
I had to keep refilling their tiny glasses of water to help them stay hydrated!
Did I mention that it was hot enough to melt your lungs and fry an egg on your tongue?
No lie, I saw a bald guy whip up an omelet right on top of his chrome dome! tasty!
Debra had all different kinds of yarn from her Picasso Moon shop but people weren't buying. I guess all the potential customers were at home in the air conditioning! Who could blame them? It was difficult not to be disappointed, even without any expectations at all. We always sell a lot at Atomic Holiday Bazaar (Dec 13th this year) but it was only the first time for this Artoberfest Show.
Naturally, this coming weekend a cold front is forecast. Is it me who seems to have bad luck?
Sometimes it seems that way!
We had our spinning wheels and I enjoyed spinning most of the afternoon away with Elizabeth.
It did amaze me to hear so many people say that they had never seen anyone spin. They were familiar with spinning wheels as "decorations" but never seen anyone actually spinning fiber into yarn. I guess all the basket weaving and loom weaving conferences I have attended have always kept me in the know about spinning.
It's good to get out there and pass out business cards and educate folks about wool, batts and spinning but next time I hear the ice cream man go by I'm shooting his tires out and duct taping him to his drivers seat while I grab armfuls of ice cream and pass them out to vendors and then crawl inside his empty freezer compartment till I cool off. Why do ice cream men just drive right by?
What's up with that? Can't they see our red faces, sweaty hair and feel the heat radiating off us like a solar flare?
At least we had a breeze every now and then.
It could have have been worse, right?
It could have been raining!
We started off underneath the shade of some giant oaks but had to move as the sun climbed higher and was soon beating down relentlessly on us.
I offered to marry someone for a cupful of ice.
Sorry Fred.
Did I tell you how hot it was?
Just what you want to do~ wrap yourself up in a cozy knitted wool shawl.
Oh well, it was fun hanging out with my friends and maybe I will list some of the cupcakes in Etsy.
Tonight is our Surface Design Meeting and it's All About Books so if you are local and want to have some fun come to the Waldemere St Fire Station (right off hwy 41 across from the hospital, behind Wendy's) at 6pm and I'll see ya there.
Don't worry, it's air conditioned!
Love and stitches,
calamity kim
She started this brave undertaking September 1st so there is enough photos posted to get a rudimentary idea of her sense of style and while simple her garments appear to be comfortable and serviceable. I chuckled a little at the one piece jumpsuit uniform but had to admire the concept behind it.
I love this silk apron over black dress that Natalie made for a gallery opening where she had all of her clothing on display.
Here is a link to the Craft Heroes Blog to see the list of vendors.
Booker T & The MG's Green Onions makes me smile and if you feel like smilin too then grab a circle rug and start gogo~ing! It's a great way to loosin up for some swingin arts n' crafts! It is Friday after all and the week has been go, go, go non-stop!
Have you had a rough week?
Did everything seem to be fighting you?
Sometimes it seems as if even a simple card game is impossible to play because the deck is stacked against you.
Did you start the week by falling down a big rabbit hole of housework and the insane task of cleaning up after the Suicide Craft Bomber that detonated in your dining room last week?
Thankfully the Red Queen has been silent and preoccupied with other family members so that your life has become quiet, drama free and (dare I say) serene.
Tuesday morning, did you wake up to once again try to believe 6 impossible things before breakfast? Were you filled with hope and joy over forgetting the housework, having friends over to play and picking up dinner from the local Greek cafe?
Was Wednesday another day filled with slap dash attempts at cleaning up and rearranging the chaos as you added bits and pieces to current projects scattered about, half started, almost finished?
Did you stop for one moment to think, what am I doing?
Is this worth the time?
Did you fall in love with Yes! Glue all over again as you smoothed it on to attach fabric to paper?
As you sewed the Shibori Girl silk down with reckless abandon did you feel free? Or did it feel as though you were making a mess and did Sally Self Doubt peek in and say hi at that moment? Did you ask her politely to leave as you continued to create a book about a journey into wonderland with a lonely little girl named Alice?
As you happily found a use for that vintage pompom fringe did you wonder if you could ever part with this funky fabric and paper book?
Knowing that you have always sold everything you ever made, do you want to keep this one...maybe make a quilted bag to hide it in and stash it under your pillow so that the Craft Show Fairy won't see it and insist you take it to the show?
As you made decisions on how to add ties to hold the book together did the stars line up and the moon explode as you got closer and closer to being finished?
Did you add blue silk water to the rising tide of the mock turtles tears and realize you were were almost done with a two week project, and take a moment to feel satisfaction in that one accomplishment?
Did dreams of granddaughters fill your imagination with the hopeful thought that maybe someday, some small hands will hold this book, as you tell the tale of rabbits and hatters and tea with roses and flamingos nearby?
Did you tie the sari silk into bows with a smile on your face and heave a sigh at the labor complete?
As the week comes to an end have you wondered what you'll be doing this time next week? Is that looking/planning too far ahead?
I can only go one day at a time as I hurry/strive to get things finished and ready to sell. Last night I watched tv and painted glue on plastic spider rings then covered them with black glitter to be ready to be added to fake cupcakes today.
It's a craft factory around here and I am so glad my husband is patient and doesn't mind the salads at 8pm or stepping around piles of yarn to get to the sink.
Have a Happy Friday!
Don't let the little things take your Joy.
The dishes and dust will always be there. Finding time to create is worth the effort because it allows your heart to heal, your hands to work and your mind to imagine.
Go Make Something Awesome!
love & stitches,
calamity kim
For the past several weeks I have been trying to get ready for an Art Show and I have thought about Blogging and not gotten much beyond that. I am sorry~ It can't be helped- not unless you have time to come over and help me make flower pins and shawl clasps or stuff some sock monkeys...
Maybe soon I can write about these books I have been working on for a Surface Design Guild program. This one is finished and I just adore it.
You can click on the picture to view the set at Flickr and leave a comment (on a photo) if you have a question and I will try to get them answered.
I must go frost my fake cupcakes....
Hope you are having a creative day.
xo,
Calamity Kim
“I have had a thousand kisses, for which with my whole soul I
thank love—but if you should deny me the thousand and first—‘t would
put me to the proof how great a misery I could live through.” ~John Keats
I am looking forward to seeing this bittersweet tale of the short but romantic love between John Keats and Fanny Brawne written and directed by Jane Campion. Campion's script was inspired by the exceptional Andrew Motion biography Keats, which I will add to my "books to find and read" list.
Here is a cool website for the movie with folded love notes to (click on to make large) read.
Love and beautiful costumes...who could ask for anything more?
have a wonderful day,
calamity kim
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