Kickin' it 1800's style yo!

Tonight I tested out this hurricane lamp that my uncle gave me a few months ago. I used olive oil as the fuel with a few drops of orange essential oil. It worked great for about 4 seconds. I think the wick needs to marinate in the oil for a while for it to work better. I used some rancid olive oil I had laying around (I saved it as a potential furniture polish) and the smell ended up making me nauseous. guzz guzz. I will try again soon. I need to buy more wicks. Next time I will use some (non-rancid) cheapo olive oil instead. I got the idea to use olive oil as a fuel from this site- LINK.

Here is a DIY version- LINK

Have a great new year!

I like to move it, move it.

Shifting stuff around today. Moved the white dresser I found in the trash into my bedroom. I was tentative about moving it into my small bedroom because it blocks some of the light coming from the window and I don't like that it is so close to the radiator. I guess it makes more sense here than in my living/dining room though. I moved the metal cabinet I had in the bedroom into the living/dining room. I will post a pic of how that looks soon.

buttermilk biscuit breakfast

Sal vs. Jelly ... the concord grape jelly conquered.

Freecycle is awesome!

I posted my air filter at 3:00 pm yesterday and someone came to my house and picked it up at 9 am this morning. Awesome! If you have items that you want to get rid of check out freecycle.org.

Finished mules {insert mule sound effect here}

I made the leather uppers and had the soles professionally put on. Funzy.

Happy Bear ornament

Happy Bear ornament, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

sheep butts

Two exhibitors eye each other's charges, Sheep Show, ca. 1945 / Jeff Carter, Walkabout photograph, originally uploaded by State Library of New South Wales collection.

I had never known that sheep butts were this cute!

Good Ideas

Maybe, maybe not... I feel like if I put my thoughts/product sketches in here they could possibly become good ideas with positive thought. Eh? Eh? The law of attraction? Worth a try...hee hee

I want to make some more hardcover journals for my shop. I've been using this book since April and it has held up okay.

Flix Fiend for fans of film

My main squeezy Sal has started a new site reviewing old and new movies and featuring trailers of upcoming movies. If you are a big movie fan and are looking for an honest review check it out at FlixFiend.com

If you have more time to kill, he also has a blog discussing the comings and goings of the baseball business. You can check that out at Besballtalk.com.

What I learned today:

Timmie #210 - Ode to Rudolph

Now in the shop.

I'm working on 2 other winter themed outfits for Timmsy, I will probably have them ready & photographed by early next week.

I like the idea of this

(photo from glass dharma site)

Glass straws handmade in the US by Glass Dharma. The pic above shows a set with a hemp sleeve, glass straw, and cleaning brush. I might buy myself one for Christmas. I'm guessing it will make sipping my beverages at least 10% more classier.


(photo from glass dharma site)
Bamboo case w/ cork stopper for carrying your fancy straw. Love it!

Camilla Engman print framed ♥

Shoe making progress(?)

I made a practice shoe so I can test out brogueing, the perforated circle designs on the edge of the baby blue piece, I manually punched it out with a hand puncher that I originally purchased for bookbinding. I ♥ tools!


Mules with lining attached

The photo above shoes the progress from my shoe making class. We are making mules to start. I've only gotten as far as securing the lining. Pretty exciting, eh?

Camilla Engman book by Uppercase

(photo by Uppercase Gallery)

Buy yourself this book! It is 192 pages of extreme awesomeness by one of my favorite contemporary artists Camilla Engman. I am lucky enough to have one of my pictures appear in this fantastically designed book. I love everything about this book, first off the packaging is amazing, it comes with a printed elastic closure, a baggage tag bookmark, and lots of extra goodies like a postcard set, mini print, and a booklet featuring Camilla's superstar dog, Morran. I love that this book gives a little background story to Camilla's varying artwork styles and techniques, inspirations, collaborations, and artist friends. It even touches upon the enviable Swedish lifestyle. What I love about Camilla (mind you, I don't know her personally) is that you can look up to her and think maybe one day you can survive as an artist too... following, analyzing, experimenting, and submerging yourself with all the things that you love. What can be better than that? -----Nothing.

Timmie #200 has landed...

apparently on a cutie cat runway in California! Thanks G for the photo!

King Con video from Time.com

Please allow a few seconds to load. You can see the back of my head for a split second, it is well worth it.

Button Soaps?! Sew cute!

I saw this soap and sewing kit in the anthropologie catalog today. I love the packaging. Totally adorable. I'm tempted to buy round soaps now and poke holes in them to make buttons for display.

Freelance guardian angel Timmie

Freelance guardian angel Timmie, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to - watching over you when your regular guardian angel has a dentist appointment or something, maybe a distant cousin's wedding in Albuquerque...in any case, he will be there for you on a freelance basis to make sure you are safe.

Charcoal Bear

charcoal bear, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

adopted and on his way to Maryland!