Calamity Kim

Coming soon to a theater near you...

Can't wait to see Fantastic Mr Fox....something to be Thankful for...cuss, yeah!

Where Are The Wild Things?

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.

Get Your GoGo On!

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

Quilted Book Cover and Celebrating Surface Design Guild of Sarasota's new Website

This is a book cover that I made for my friend Petunia. It covers a book I found at Books a Million titled "Why did the chicken cross the road?".

I printed her picture on fabric and then log cabin pieced it around the photo. After I trimmed it 1/4" larger than the book I layered it with batting and embroidered and quilted with colorful perle cotton.

I quickly sketched a chicken and scanned it then printed it onto fabric and appliqued her on the front looking up at Petunia in the chook pen.
I think she wants a hug too!

I always sew in bookmarks and attach small things to them by hand or machine.

This shows the back with life on the farm- cows, chicks and pigs.
I have a few more great books to cover and will have them in the etsy shop some day soon. It somehow elevates them from just a book to something special to be treasured. The red polka dot flower is a pin that can be taken off and worn while reading the book, of course!
In answer to the question "Why did the chicken cross the road?" my answer would be: to be held in Petunia's loving arms! That's reason enough for any chook!
Please continue adding your name to the rug giveaway- I just had to post something- I was going crazy!
 In fact, I have been using my regular blogging time to add content to our local, brand new  Surface Design Guild Website. Would you mind helping me (and the Guild) by clicking on this link and if you were to be kind enough to mention it in a small post of your own I would be so grateful!
There is a great  wealth of information and resources on the Links section of the sidebar- go see!
We need to build some traffic so that it can be found when entered into a search engine- Google just doesn't recognize it now and it needs some viewership. Thank You so kindly!
have a happy day!
I have some sewing to do...pictures soon!
xo,
calamity kim

Zuckerman's Famous Pig!

close up one corner, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

I can remember reading Charlotte's Web over and over and trying to imagine that I was Fern and Wilbur was my pig. I would try to copy the drawings and escape my reality for hours and hours....

Draw me a picture

Guest room is ready!, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

When my son, Troy was still a little penny lover, (imagine his tiny, sweaty palms with a penny or two clutched tightly), he would often say,"Mommy, draw me a picture." So we would sit down at the coffee table, on the floor in front of the cartoons, (imagine He-man or Thundercats) and start drawing and coloring. He thought I could draw so well and I , in return new for a moment I was one of his heroes. Like the baseball and football players he adored, even when he was very small, he could rattle off stats and plays and sounded like a mini-sportscaster!
Some of my favorite illustrated books are by Garth Williams,Louis Darling,William Joyce,Jan Brett,Patience Brewster and Michael Hague. My all-time favorite though is Holly Hobby.