New Crafts! and the woes of no photos

So I just signed in to flickr and since I don't have the pro account I can no longer add photos (until next month) to any flickr pools, the main one of concern being style school. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm just going to keep creating things and worry about it later. Here are a couple photos of one of the pairs of earrings I've made, and also my stamp. I'm going to use my stamp for music related products to distribute at gigs and what have you. Maybe fabric patches if I could get that to work, or just large business cards.

Guitar stamp and sample prints. I was so excited to use my linoleum that proclaims on the package that it "Cuts like butter!" How could you not chose that brand. I have to tell ya, it really does.

My earrings, on an old book, on top of an even older apron that I was wearing that I got at the flea market this past summer. It was handmade and you there are an incredible amount of pleats in it. I have yet to sew a pleat in something.

Sporting my fabric covered earrings via the Style School ladies. Quick and colorful project.

So I just signed in to flickr and since I don't have the pro account I can no longer add photos (until next month) to any flickr pools, the main one of concern being style school. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm just going to keep creating things and worry about it later. Here are a couple photos of one of the pairs of earrings I've made, and also my stamp. I'm going to use my stamp for music related activities products to distribute at gigs and what have you.

Blues for breakfast please. And for dinner too.

This photo was taken a few weeks ago. My feet and my dog play a starring roll you can tell. No, the frog takes center stage in this frame, panting heavily in the afternoon sun, un-able to move itself from its resting place in the middle of a local forest road. We placed it safely near its contemporarys on the other side of the road in the direction that it was heading. There was a small woods pond filled with these creatuers screaching away as they do so well, and lets just say, this frog had a mate waiting. Maybe several. That day every frog had 8 legs...

     I have begun playing guitar with a friend of mine who plays in severals bands, performing regularly. Playing guitar is nothing new for me, but playing with others is not something that always happens frequently. He is very talented and it makes me want to be so much better! That is exciting, to do well with your playing, but at the same time be inspired to play more, and to play better than you do. He is making his living playing music which is also inspiring because this is one of my life goals. We are hoping to write some material over the summer and play some shows together.

    We have been having some conversations admist our practicing about playing and performing music as a business. It is decided that one of the major social challenges that arises, is being accepted by people as having a "real" or "legitimate" job. The skill that goes into being a musician takes years of hard work and effort, just as much as everyone elses profession, even more so than some! I find it hard to tell people often times that I'm a musician and want this to be my money making living, and not getting laughed at, or criticized, even by people who you would normally thing of as supportive of creative endevors. This criticisim also comes from people of every age and backround, not that I'm continually faced with it, but the memories of these negative encounters has built up over the years. My friend has had similiar experiences, and he's the one out of the two of us that is actually doing what I want to be doing!

     So don't go harpin on those that play the blues for their bread! They are a hardworking kind. And if you're the one doing the trashtalking, your almost guaranteed to be immortalized in song at some point in time. And remember too, that those songs are the ones you turn on the sterio when you're driving down the road sad as hell, or having a rocking good time on a Saturday night, and that those songs were written by the hardworking musicians that surround us everday. And till 2:00 am too.

Good and Neat

I have embarked upon cleaning a large portion of my living space, getting rid of clothes, books, art supplies, all things that were once useful to me, but are now finding their way to new homes and new people who will actually enjoy them. The main reason for the purge of items was to clean up my practice space for music. I have a spot to record, keep my instruments, music books, stereo's, mic stands, you name it there is a lot to fit. Here is a shot of my newly organized music area.

        This is a handmade slide that Truckman made for me out of a beer bottle neck. He sanded it, ground it down all by hand. He cut the neck from the main part of the bottle using a sharp stone and scratching the glass in a circle till it just popped off. This part would be much easier if you had a glass cutter. It produces a very nice warm sounding slide when played on a resonator guitar. I enjoy using it because it's the real thing!

This is perhaps the best late night snack I can think of. Candied ginger with green  apple slices and peanut butter. I suggest you try it if you can get your hands on some good salty peanut butter (Teddie is one of my favorite brands) and dried ginger slices with big granulated sugar crystals.

I bought more yarn to finish crocheting a scarf. My very first crocheting project. Check out the link to Berocco's great color pallet of Ultra Alpaca yarns. I'll post some pictures of the scarf later. 

We're gearing up for a bunch of snow here later today and into tomorrow. Lots of knitting to happen in the next day or so I hope when we get snowed in!