One of these things is not like the other...

One of these things just doesn't belong.

Of course she does!! Just not in the laundry cycle!

HUH?

Lately, it seems I've been too busy even to eat a semi-proper meal. (Although I did splurge the other night and go here! Probably the best dinner ever!) I've felt too tired to upload photos or construct a thought. Sad.

The thing is, in order to have periods of Inspired Living, one must have times of uninspired living, right? It's not even like my days are that uninspired, they just don't have the extra hour or two here and there to log in and type about it. I'm still making and knitting away getting ready for Christmas time at the Flea and developing a few new patterns for Blue Sky.

What I've mostly been doing though is preparing for a dance performance in LA:

HUH?

Santa Monica Museum of Art
Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15, 2008
7 pm
$15, $10 for SMMoA members
Seating is limited. First come, first seated.

Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com

Choreographer Melinda Ring and dancers Kimberly Hamlin and Sari Nordman
take over Martin Kersels’ sculpture “Rickety”. As one moody individual
portrayed by three people, they navigate the sculpture’s split levels
and awkward spaces with a mysterious group mind to the accompaniment
of a ticking clock and other ambient sounds.

This performance is in conjunction with the exhibition "Martin Kersels:
Heavyweight Champion" on view at the Santa Monica Museum of Art
from September 13 to December 13, 2008.

Santa Monica Museum of Art
Bergamot Station G1
2525 Michigan Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90404
www.smmoa.org

I like getting to be a dancer and fly to places to perform. (Actually, this is the first time I'm doing it, but it seems like a cool thing!) In order to be a better dancer I have to take a break from the feverish making of things and relax more. I'd love to think it was a conscious plan, but the truth is, when I get home I'm tired and don't have enough mind focus to come up with new ideas. So, in order to retain a little bit of productivity, I'll sit and work on a harf for a while and that seems to be enough for now.

I'll be back at the flea market November 23rd with a table full of new jewelry, trees, craft kits and harfs.

If you know anyone in LA... tell them about my dance!!!

Patriot for Obama!

Obama is #44! I want to stay awake all night so the feeling won't end! The horns outside are blaring, people are shouting - the city is rejoicing!

It feels amazing to be not only a witness to such an event, but participant. For the first time in my life I sat and listened to my 'leader' speak and just believed. Nothing he said in his speech was off to me. It reminded me of my own passion for this country (and that that is ok).... which I've only ever felt when reading the Constitution or Gettysburg address... and desire to find a way to be a working part of it. Finally. Thank you Barack! You are truly gifted. I feel like part of something and am very proud to call you my President.

Patriots, we all are still.
Let's make our country better!!!


I'm in Obama. Put me to work!!!!

Cool!

One of my trees was featured in this weeks Time Out NY!! Check it out!

Since I'm always (proudly) telling people that my style is "sexy grandma" I'm glad to be a part of grandma themed grouping!!

I tried...

A photo shoot with the ladies the other day, which basically went like this: sneak up on Clarissa, put the hat on, scramble to find my camera and turn around just in time to shoot this...

The one possibility
didn't last long!!
Eleanor, on the other hand, was much more obliging! Too bad I didn't have more in her size!! This harf actually is more for a grown up, but looks pretty great on her anyway.

Pretend you're cold!!!
REALLY cold!!!

Freezing!
Somehow, it seems like overnight, this child has become an honest to goodness "big kid." Her expressions, concerns, eye rolling, thoughts, abilities... amaze me. Everyday I pick her up it's "Let's go to the park and see which of my friends are there!" And when we get there there's a loud "ELEANOR!!" shouted from at least one, if not more, of her friends. They hug hello, make up games and always make sure to say goodbye to each other individually. Yesterday I started taking photos of the girls as they piled up at the foot of the slide which of eventually led to a whole photo shoot with funny poses and everything. So much pink and stripes and flowers and of course... laughing.

Country Living Mention

Back in April, some editors from Country Living Magazine visited the Brooklyn Flea to take photos for an article. I'm pleased as punch that they included my hats and a little blurb in their article. I'm in such good company too!!

Thanks to everyone who came out today and made my walk home a lighter one! I'm totally looking forward to more Fall days at the Flea!!!!

Also...
Thanks Jemaine for swerving by my booth to check out my cuff links, even if it was brief. You're pretty "mother flippin" rad!

If you don't know Jemaine, check out this and get with it quick!

Down by the bay...

Where the watermelon grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother would say...

"Have you ever seen a..."

and then you say something funny that rhymes, like... "a tree growing a knee?" Extra points for using poo & pee of course, as these words are always a hit with the wee ones.

Down by the bay!

Yesterday Eleanor and I sang about twelve verses of this song and laughed our heads off. Then on round thirteen she interrupts me to say, "Don't sing Kimmie."

"Why not? Why can't I sing?" I whine.

"Because you're too...."

"Don't say it!!!" I shout before she can say I'm too old!

"Be cause you're too GIANT!" She laughs.

And laughs.


And laughs.


I guess that's a little better than being too old, isn't it?

Or is it?

Regardless, aren't these gals adorable???? They make me wish I had a sister!

This Song is good.

And this live version is especially good.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love (Live at Later... with Jools Holland

The way it should be...

When I was in Seattle, every latte looked like this, but not here! So, I was pleasantly surprised the other day to find a spot in Manhattan where they take the time to make you something this beautiful and tasty!

WHere?

Cafe Grumpy
224 W 28th street (between 6 & 7)
or
128 Meserole (at Diamond) in Greenpoint.

They brew each coffee by the cup and the scent of beans grinding is intoxicating! The shop sports a neutral decorating scheme which is neither minimalist nor crowded. I am pleased by the lack of post cards and homemade advertisements. I've also had lovely, unexpected banter with all the servers which, second only to the coffees, makes me want to go back!

Thanks Guys!
and iphone for helping me locate a cafe in the area when I was ten minutes early for rehearsal and for taking this photo.

The new "to do" list

Some might remember this letter tray from an earlier post...

What was originally just a nice display has now developed into a sort of to do list. It's where I put lost buttons in need of re-sewing, charms I mean to do something with or photos I want to remember to admire on a daily basis. Basically I'm thinking I'll put anything small up here, that needs remembering and over time it'll become a little library of "thoughts."

Instead of having to find a suitable mismatched button, I'll know right where I put the matching one! This will also save me the trouble of configuring a back up outfit when I can't think of anything but the skirt in need of mending. Have I ever mentioned that virtually ALL of my mending occurs three minutes before I'm supposed to walk out the door?? Yeah. There I am, sporting half an outfit, frantically sewing on the end of my bed, when I could just throw on pair of jeans and tee shirt like a normal person.

But back to the tray... I'm always really interested in clutter. I certainly don't like messes, but there's something to the little chatchkas we humans collect. Every home seems to have some, whether its refrigerator magnets, tiny toys, rocks & shells, or even "real art." Imagine.

I'm also really interested in people's inability to deal with their clutter. In other words, organization, or lack thereof. In my world, what might look like a simple pile, actually has a lot of rhyme and reason to it. I think this is the difference between a mess and a display, the intention. I love the idea of turning a bad habit, or organizing weakness, into display. My idea for someone who is always throwing clothes on the floor, is to throw them on the wall instead. Install a grid of hooks, or even just long nails, and stuff your clothes up there instead. Sure it'll look like a pot of spaghetti clothes... but you'll have room to walk, you won't have to take the precious time to put them away and over time, it might end up looking kinda cool up there.

So here are all the thoughts so far in my tray:

This stack of British coins looked so beautiful against the dark wood, I just want to regularly admire it. I love the detailed edges... how come our coins aren't as cool?? Also, I might want to design something based off of these patterns.

These sparkly buttons need to be re-attached to this coat.

A squid and my handsome Grandpa in his navy uniform!! I miss you!

A map box I need to find a new chain for and scented green tea oil to liven up my draw papers!

A little lost tree bird checking things out, a broken pin that needs fixing or a new life and green thread that is just pretty.

Two charms that need chains and a "G" typewriter key for the pair of initial cuff links I owe my friend Garth.