Category: life

I’ve tried to live without coffee this past week and have been drinking tea instead.

It is not the same. At all.

I’ve been totally off my game and highly unproductive. I’ve felt fuzzy and distracted. I know that it might not totally be the lack of coffee, but man it’s a good excuse as any.

So tomorrow I am going to bribe myself with the mud. I am going to go get myself some joe and work my way straight through the day. I plan on zooming through my to do list and leaping tall buildings in a single bound.

I am very excited by this prospect. I can’t wait.

Image by Lotzman Katzman

During my travels in Chile, I came across so many wonderful handmade goods. It was very easy to bring back small mementos that were crafted by local artisans. Here are some of the great gifts that are now making there way to friends and family.

This pendent of lapis lazuli is for my momma. It is her birthday at the end of the week and I thought she might like this semi precious stone that is mined in Chile.

Salmon is not a native fish to Chile. It was brought in and farm raised, but escaped. Now it is found wild in the country. These bracelets are made from the skin of salmon. They are thin, but leathery and very cool.

With wool and alpaca to choose from there is an abundance of hand knitted items available throughout the country. This pair of striped mittens are bound for my nephew. I love the colors.

I got an email the other day, alerting me to an alumni competition called 30 Objects, hosted by my alma mater, the Savannah College of Art and Design. These emails always jar me a bit, make me take note. Not because of the content of the email (more on that in a bit) but because my age tracks with the school.

It is so crazy to think that I am as old as a university and that I attended a school that was and still is so young. Just makes me go, huh.

The call for entries is kind of interesting. They ask for submissions that incorporate 30 objects of the artist’s choosing and must be able to fit on a 48-inch, round platform. Artists will be reimbursed for up to $500 in supplies and artists whose proposals are selected will be awarded a $2,000 prize.

Sounds kind of neat. Gives me an idea. Something to commemorate my 30 years. I have to think on it, but it will have something to do with collecting 30 things. I have time, I’m not the big 3-0 yet. Any suggestions? Perhaps it is something I could even submit to the competition. Ooh the possibilities.

Change can mean so many things. It can be both positive and negative. We became desensitized to its definition with the constant overuse in 2008.

Many things changed for the better for me in 2008. It was filled with many leaps and bounds of good that I made happen. I met my current business partners at the beginning of 2008. I quit my day job and decided to set out on my own. I embraced my creative side more, helping me feel more complete.

As ‘07 turned to ‘08, I was ready for the signal of the new year. I was waiting with open arms and a new attitude, wanting good change. I am convinced that this positive attitude at the turn of the year, helped get me to where I am today.

As 2009 came, something was different. Something was off for me. Change is coming. This time it sounds ominous. I know that there is still good things to come my way, but I can’t shake the feeling that what is coming won’t all be positive.

I know it seems silly, but I am also convinced that my attitude at the turn of the new year, will also influence what is to come. A self fulfilling prophesy if you will.

I realize that A plus B, doesn’t necessarily equal C, but that is where my mind is; waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Image by Darren Hester

I’m an avid procrastinator and so therefore didn’t finish all of my family’s gifts as timely as I wanted. So I spend an exorbitant amount of money to have my packages picked up on the 22nd of December with the guarantee that they would safely arrive at their destination by the 24th.

Well, one package arrived safe and sound and the other is lost.

I figured that the northeast has been under constant assault from the winter weather and that everything might be delayed, so no worries right? But over a week later, the tracking number only indicates that the box was picked up at my house.

I called my friendly USPS customer service number to see what I could do. They placed a “research” on my package (whatever that means) and that I should hear back from them today. Ha!

I understand that things get lost in the mail here and there and that that is what insurance is for. But since all my gifts were handmade, they are priceless to me. Will I ever find another pirate chest as awesome as the one I found? Sure I can knit up another calometry and print out another iron on, but gees, this sure sucks.

At least the mustache glasses arrived.

You ever lost a handmade item in the mail? What did you do?

Image by Warm ‘n Fuzzy