Wine Cork Board- Another Project Completed!

For the past year I have been saving up corks to finish this wine cork bulletin board. It is about four hundred corks, and even if you are a lush- it is still A LOT of drinking. I had my parents help out, so whenever I visited them they had a plastic bag full of corks for me to take home. Adam and I took a wine class and the teacher sent me home with a large bag of corks. Pretty soon I had a ton of corks lying around the apartment, taking up space, and an unfinished board that I was too busy to finish. Shocker. The story of my life. So one day I thought, I have to get rid of these corks! I pulled out the unfinished board and just motored through it. I find that once I start up a project again, it re inspires me and is so much easier to complete. The most difficult step is taking it out of the closet (or other dark hole) I've stuck it in. Well I began going through corks and it was very easy to finish the second half and I was SSSOOOO proud of myself when it was done. It is now hanging by my front door and I love looking at it every time I open or close my door. It is really great to try to remember where all the corks are from. The Nickel & Nickel cork (towards the middle) is from our 5th year anniversary dinner in Big Sur.

If you are feeling green and would like to recycle your corks, it is super easy. What I did was go to an art supply store and bought a simple wooden frame (remember, the larger the frame the more corks you need, and the longer it takes to finish). Make sure the frame is about 1.25" deep so that it can hold the corks. Once I had the frame I cut out a piece of foam core that fit into the frame exactly. In order to make sure the corks fit, I placed the foam core into the frame and then fit the corks in from there. You can do lots of different designs- mine is fairly straightforward, but it is like a puzzle, I would piece in about eight corks and then glue them onto the foam core. I did row by row, width wise. I used tacky glue- I went to a craft store and asked the salesperson what would work best (any strong craft glue will work). When I had pieced together a good amount, I would pick up the corks and just put a line of glue on the bottom and then press it down, hold it for a moment and move on to the next one. The only difficult part was the end of the rows. Sometimes a cork wouldn't fit into the last space, so I would just cut it up with a knife to a size that would fit. (Special note: I didn't use any plastic corks). Once all the corks were glued in place (about a year after starting the project), I turned over the form core and placed it in the frame corks first. Voila- after hammering a couple of framing tacks to keep it in place, I wired it and hung it up on the wall and now have a beautiful self-made showpiece!

Embroidery with Heather Ross

During November of last year I took a couple of different crafty classes because I wanted most of my Christmas gifts to be handmade. The only successful gift that came out of the process was these (former) napkins. These are the fruit of my labor from an embroidery class with Heather Ross at Purl Patchwork. My goal was to embroider four napkins with designs that my mother would cherish enough to use. I decided to find/create images of my two daughters. Heather showed me a book of embroidery by Piu Sudo, an illustrator whose work I immediately fell in love with, and I used the bottom two designs which were originally from her book, Delightful Creations with Embroidery and Applique (I tweaked them a little bit). The top two are all mine.

Now let me preface this story. I have been a huge fan of Heather's fabric prints forever, so much so that at times I probably wish I were her. So how do you act when you take a class with a person who is an idol? Yeah, I didn't want to seem like a drooling puppy or a stalker, but it is somewhat awkward. Well, when I am nervous I talk a lot, so needless to say I was quite a chatty patty. I told everyone about how my mother was very particular so I needed to make the napkins just "SO" so that they wouldn't end up in the closet never to be seen again.

I think they thought I was a little nutty- why wouldn't my mother love anything I made?

"No" I said, "She's a Virgo, so the napkins have to be a certain way or else she won't use them. It is really difficult to explain."

They just gave me "whatever" looks and then changed the conversation to the rules of defriending on Facebook.

Well I finally finished the napkins for my mother and she loved them. I went home to New York (she lives outside SF) and she calls me a couple of weeks later and says,"Oh Patricia, I made the most adorable coasters out of your napkins." Figures.

I just want to say to my class (who will never read this) "I TOLD YOU SO".

Does anyone else have parents who always put gifts in the closet never to be seen again?

Another gift that my parents received this past Christmas was a wine holder that they had been given last year from my bother and his wife. My brother's wife had been so insulted to find it in their garage that she took it and rewrapped it for this year. Maybe she thought the timing was better the second go around.

Anyways, I wanted to write about how much I really loved Heather's class and she just came out with a new book Weekend Sewing that we were able to sneak peak in class. I think it is great and I highly recommend it if you would like some fun sewing projects.

Welcome Back Maira!

I was following my morning ritual blog-hopping and happened upon one of my favorites by Heather Ross and via her blog, found an even more favorite (sorry Heather) MAIRA KALMAN. Yes, finally after waiting two years...okay, maybe more like one and a half (but it felt like ten) she's back blogging In the Pursuit of Happiness and I couldn't be happier (I'm hanging all over her coat tails). I cried immediately when I read it. Thanks Maira. I missed you.

Today is the Luckiest Day of the Year

Tonight the Sun will meet with Jupiter making this the "luckiest day of the year" (quoting Susan Miller) therefore use it wisely. I was searching through old work and found this piece that I had done for a past January 23, and thought it very apropos to post it for today. Daffodils- I always feel so lucky when I spot them in the Spring. Unfortunately we have little while before these beauties reveal themselves, but until then, this will do.

Change has Come

The 44th President of the United States is not pale. He is vibrant.

Heaven on Earth

Over new year I was able to go to an amazing place that felt as close to heaven on earth as you can get. My husband and I celebrated our 5th anniversary, so we wanted to do something really special. We stayed at a very small inn in Big Sur, California and it was divine (And that is an understatement). Within the first five minutes of arriving, I had a glass of champagne in my hands...I knew immediately that I was in the right place. If that doesn't convince you, look at the photos. It is very eco friendly to boot. The infinity pool hangs over the ocean and some of the rooms have grass roofs. I have some beautiful paintings from here, but they aren't finished. Yikes. The story of my life.

Happy New Year!

I'm back after my extended vacation. Last month was jam packed with gift-making, traveling, painting, and many other events, so not much happened on my little blog, other than showing off my calendar, which it did pretty well. A huge thank you to everyone who bought a calendar! I am so excited by the rave reviews;) I have one New Years resolution this year, but I am not telling yet, because it is a pretty big one. I will drop hints here and there, but for now it is secret. I try to post about all of the crafty things I have been doing, like dollmaking, embroidery, and crocheting. Until then enjoy 2009! Oh and be sure to read your January horoscope by Susan Miller. She is absolutely fabulous.

My Calendar Debut

I have finally finished my 2009 calendar! Yay me! It took a lot longer than I anticipated, but it's done now, so lesson learned for next year. Which brings me to...can you believe that 2008 is almost over? Neither can I. All of the months are posted above so there won't be any surprises this year, just excitement. If you would like to purchase one, click the badge that says "Buy my calendar here". It will lead the way.

The Big Red Balloon

Another painting for Illustration Friday. My idea was to create an animal holding a balloon which became the polar bear, but I wasn't satisfied because it didn't tell a story. The next thing I know I have a red fox throwing darts at the balloon.

Paradise Island

I went to the Bahamas recently for a little fun in the sun and while I was there took some action shots of the sea life. I love taking photographs of fish swimming because you feel so lucky when you get a good shot. At the resort there was a beautiful mural on one of the ceilings.

Wise Guys

My question to you is who is wiser than woo?

In my need to put a portfolio together I have made it my goal to participate in the weekly Illustration Friday prompts, so when you see the weekly random topics and illustrations, this is why.

Happy New Day

Wow, what a month it has been, and you've probably been wondering where I disappeared to. Well I've been madly working on a calendar for 2009. I've never been able to get one together, but this year it's going to happen...knock on wood of course. I plan to complete it for next week. Above is a part of one of the illustrations which I am really excited about. Hope everyone is feeling good about the world in general and I'll try not to be so scarce.

Village Pet Shop and Charcoal Grill

I'm a big fan of the artist Banksy, so I was delighted to find out about his/her newest installation in the West Village, the Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill. It is a pet store-eatery that appeared overnight. You don't understand? Well you kind of have to see it to believe it. Instead of fish floating in a tank, it has fish sticks swimming around in said tank (see-below). Instead of little chickies grazing, there are chicken nuggets pecking the ground. Want a bunny rabbit? Well they have one...primping in front of a vanity. Yes, it seems that this store is a commentary on our over-processed, technologic world. Did I make up a word in that phrase? Probably so, but you get me. There are also more large rats popping up in downtown New York. Like we need more rats...

Studio Violet

I am an addict of Camilla Engman's blog, so it is no surprise that I fell immediately in love with her new blog Studio Violet. It is a collaboration between Camilla and Elisabeth Dunker of Fine Little Day. I love the photos and colors that these ladies choose. I am so excited to see how it all progresses.

Phatsheep Textiles

My swap is over, and this is the last time I will post about it, but I had to show what I received from Suzanne of Phatsheep Textiles. She sent me a lovely bag filled with even more delightful summer "finds". I love polka dots for one, so I was ecstatic with just the sac, but it was filled with postcards, shells, yarn, and yummy soaps, and literature about where she lives. I definitely have the warms fuzzies. I love Suzanne's eye for color and her fabric and textile creations are not to be missed. Thank you for my gifts!

Happy Fall

Recently I told a friend that I was really into vampire stories and that I was loving the new HBO series Trueblood. She replied that she was reading the BEST book called Twilight, and I should read it immediately. So that is what I've been doing for the last week. Reading the WHOLE series. Yes, I am the type of reader who gets obsessed and can't put the book down until I have read the whole thing, in this case the saga. Stephenie Meyer is my new favorite author. The above shoe has nothing to do with the post, but I would love to own it.

Oh Those French

I went to a friends house for breakfast the other day and she has an infant, who in turn has many wonderful toys. The dad is French, so this little girl receives many French goodies. I was delighted by this soft book- recently I have been wanting to create some soft-books of my own, so I've been looking for examples- and of course the images are so French. Would you ever find these kind of pictures in an American children's book? Probably not, unless it was sex ed. It's great to see a book with no inhibitions.

I Sent It Off

So the send-off date and when I actually send it usually vary by about 3 days. Cheers all around because it is gone and hopefully will make somebody happy within the next couple of days (I sent it priority). Now my life is complete. And a little bit calmer. I just wanted to thank everyone again for participating in the swap. I hope you all had as fun as I did. My sac is made from a dress given to me by a friend when she was trying to clean out her apartment before a move. I had an idea of how I wanted it to look and freestyled it. I am really excited, because it actually turned out as I had imagined. I haven't really wanted to sew since my fashion school days, but my last two projects came out so successfully (in my eyes), that I might want to start a line of bags. But then, doesn't everyone? I know my line would have a lot of pockets. I love pockets, especially secret ones.

Summer Sac Swap Send-Off

Well today is the send-off day for the swap. I know, I thought the day would never come either! Well it is here, and if you are like me, I've been so busy, that I haven't been able to get all my items together into the sac...just yet. Most likely by tomorrow. So swapper- it will be a day late. I think I can speak for us all when I say that if you are going to be a day late, even two, no big deal, but if it is more than that, please contact your swapper so that they don't harass the mail person without cause. If you have misplaced any of the information I sent you, just email me and I would be happy to give you the information. If you don't receive a package, or email, please email me, and I will email your swapper to find out what's up. I know that many packages have already been sent, and I am excited to see what people have received. Please post pix on the flickr group site. (I just peeked and saw SawbiiWabii's fabulous swap collection.) I hope that everyone has a wonderful experience with this swap.

Chihuly at Legion of Honor

San Francisco is quite the place to see good art exhibits right now. Most of the Chihuly work is currently at the De Young Museum, but a couple of the nicest pieces are at the Legion of Honor complementing the Women Impressionist's exhibit. I highly recommend both as well as the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the SFMOMA. The day I went to the Legion of Honor was so beautiful- no fog and in the eighties. The perfect condition to see this Chihuly wonder.