Why I don't belong in a post-apocalyptic world...

Mister: What are you doing?

Me: Ignoring your zombies and reading blogs.

There are many reasons that a post-apocalyptic world is not my ideal setting: indoor plumbing gone, grocery stores gone, antibiotics gone, schools gone, Internet gone....
but the biggest one is this:

I am not made to handle zombies. I do not enjoy video games with zombies. I do not enjoy movies with zombies*. I can not wrap my brain around the fiction of zombies and come to any sort of narrative in which I would be useful, except perhaps as bait.

And any future that involves me as bait is one that I am not interested in. Even if it is bait for attractive vampire types.

* Except Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland

What to do...

Having a chance to sleep in was a wonderful rarity. (Thank you, in-laws!)

So far this morning I have made cranberry salsa for Thanksgiving at Aunt Elaine's, made cranberry sauce for home, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast of oatmeal with (waitforit) organic dark cocoa honey. From Pixie's Pocket on etsy. It is worth every penny, if you like chocolate.

So now I have to: water the animals, change out the fish tank, sort through kids clothes (WHY would anyone need 30 t-shirts?), and get painting for MY etsy shop.

And I have 4 hours. I guess I'll tend to the beasts and then tend to the art.

(Is this what being grown up is? Doing what needs to be done before you do what you want?)

Also, I have been enjoying a new blog: Cold Antler Farm. I got the link from me ma.

Sleeping in

The wee ones are on holiday at the grandparents! Today I slept until 8. It was deeeelightful. Then I had breakfast with my houseguest & drove her to the airport.

Now it is lunch, studio time, and then off to help a friend pack up his studio in anticipation of his move.

I'll probably stay up late and get wild.
(Translation: fall asleep on the couch in front of a movie)

more, more, MORE!

I'm a busy little bee, what am I.
The boys are a bit sluggish in their roles as collaborative partners, although Mr. P handed me his finished pieces last night. We are still waiting on Mitchell, who has been busy drawing for work.... In other news, I have a few more items up on Etsy. I am currently creating a few more which should be posted by next week's end.
I have volunteered to set up an Etsy shop for some friends...it started with volunteering to do the banner and sort of snowballed from there. I don't mind setting it up, but I really don't want to be the admin....

I have decided on my next ART adventure: guerrilla art! It's an excuse to be subversive, in an aesthetically pleasing way. Also, it's an excuse to use heavy-duty adhesive and found objects. Whee!

And I am super excited to be helping out this really neato photographer. I admire his work, and this particular project speaks to me on whole bunch of levels: as a tattoo artist, as a former army wife, and as the granddaughter of veterans. Things are in the super rough planning stages, but I am still doing the happy dance.

Oh, and the kids are going to spend Monday-Thanksgiving with the grandparents. OH THE FREE TIME I WILL HAVE. I may just barricade myself in the studio with the coffee pot and the laptop. And probably the last box of girl scout cookies. But if you're in the Chicagoland area and know of other worthwhile ventures, drop me a line. I'm down for whatever.

Birdy! Birdy!

Hello! First pair of Yule ornaments are in the Etsy shop. Pop over and bid them a friendly hello, would you?

For reals, this time...

I am on the cusp of posting new things to my etsy shop. It's a pretty big move for me. I haven't posted anything new in quite a while, as I have been trying to figure out what I can make instead of jewelry...
quick back story: I used to make collage jewelry in a glass frame that was held together with solder. I LOVE SOLDER. there is something wonderful and primal about heating metal until it is a liquid and then pushing it around until it does what you want. However, I have asthma and the lovely toxic solder fumes were affecting my ability to breathe. And as breathing is one of those non-optional functions, I had to figure something else out.

Turns out that if I put my mind to it, there's quite a few things I can make. I have decided to arrange my shop seasonally and create for the 8 holidays of the calendar year. Yes! All eight. This took quite a bit of debate, because I wasn't sure if I was ready to share this next bit of info with the whole world.

And right here is the fun part: hey y'all! Did you know I'm pagan?! That's right: I am an earth-loving, dirt-digging, sky-watching hippie.

I celebrate 8 major holidays based off of the Wiccan wheel of the year: Yule (Dec 21), Imbolc (Feb 2), Ostara (March 21), Beltane (May 1), Litha (June 21), Lughnasadh (August 2), Mabon (September 21), Samhain (October 31).
You will note a bit of overlap between these 8 and other cultural holidays. That is not coincidental. Back before TV and electricity, ALL of our ancestors knew about the Summer and Winter solstices, and the Spring and Autumnal equinoxes. It was a way of keeping track of time, in addition to the lunar cycles....but that is another lesson for another time.

First up in the etsy shop will be Yule decorations...also suitable for Christmas, Festivus and the like.
Bird ornaments (because I am a bird loving girl), star garlands, wall hangings will start the ball rolling.
Next up will be year-round items, and then crafts and activities for children.