lady cordelia

monday's talking points

I like Mondays.   Around here, Mondays are for cleaning up, grocery shopping, planning the week ahead.   

This morning is peanut butter and honey toast.
This morning is noticing the pretty garlic growing in pots (the ones I planted in the ground don't look so keen.)
This morning is Brad begging me to show his big muscles on my blog and not the rest of him. Isn't that ridiculous?  THERE you go Brad! Happy now? 

Also: a new-to-me Etsy find:  A 1971 General Electric kitchen clock.  1971 is my birth year and my parents were hippies in San Francisco when I was born. They probably had a clock a lot like this.  You should really meet my parents some day.  They are the best people on the planet and I am not exaggerating. 

My dad started his own business at 40 years old and has gone on to be what we call "the Robert DeNiro of the rare book world."  (He specializes in modern first editions and is known for it internationally.)  My dad is 81, still works 6 days a week and is so cool it would just rock your socks off.  (I know I'm embarrassing him, sorry dad, but I'm proud of who you are.)

My mom is known by those near and far as the kindest, clearest human on the planet.  She's just one step down from Mother Teresa. (And really, it's a very small step.) Ok.  Maybe she doesn't spend her life abroad gathering alms.  But her happy spirit helps all those around her. My mom has an uncanny knack of always looking at the bright side of things and her flower garden would make you weep it's so beautiful. I'll show you a photo someday.  Who knew Robert DeNiro and Mother Teresa would make such a nice couple, right?  Anyway, how did I get onto all that about my parents.  It's that clock from 1971, see?  It does that to me.

Back to today: I am going to try and clean up and move forward with all the things I want and need to get accomplished with work this week. Gotta walk the dog (the one who can still walk well, not the one with the supposed mass in his spleen.)  We call this dog "a woman for all seasons."  If you look at that face, you will see I'm not lying one bit. Her name is Koko.  But she would rather be called A Woman For All Seasons.  Please do call her that if you come over.

I'm gonna send a few quilts, get to making some quilts.  I'm going to make this yummy salad again (in which I added a lot of raw kale and apple and didn't add the tomato.) & I'm also going to try and make my workspace look more like something out of Designsponge.  But. We know that won't happen.  So I'll cross that off the list right now.  Phew!  I'm feeling better about my week already!  And even if nothing goes as planned, hey, I'll still be living with Big Muscle Brad. 

sailing into the weekend

Heading into a weekend of art shows on this beautiful Friday morning.  I really do not think it could be more beautiful outside. 

I finally found out what was eating my garden...caterpillars.  I felt bad.  Real bad.  But I'd put too much money and time into growing food.  So, I sprayed the plants with  an "organic" caterpillar killer.  I feel ashamed of myself.  What an asshole, right?  Killing innocent little caterpillars! This is the kind of stuff that keeps me up at night.  You think I'm kidding.  But, then, I look at my garden, and it is slowly coming back from near death. The way I see it, it's either my veggie garden or the caterpillars and, truth be known, I don't want to eat caterpillars.  How about you? How's your garden coming along? 

I put a few new quilts in my Etsy store.  (I only put some of what I have in the store so if you are looking for something in a specific color scheme or size, let me know.)

I'm hoping that sometime towards the end of next week I will be ready to introduce a new "product" into the store.  Something fun and inexpensive!  Who can argue with that, right?

Have a fantastic weekend my friends and I will see you on the flip side.

oh what a world.

"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely strands in it. Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves.”  Chief Seattle

And that is why, in our little world, even thought we are just doing the normal every day things, we do them with hearts that are sore and aching for those who have experienced such tragedy on the other side of our nation.

What can a person say?  It's clearly the reality of our world.  I continue on, with my children, my work.  I do everything with a slightly larger awareness.  It's as if the world has slowed down (again) and we have an opportunity to look inside ourselves. How do we want to live in this world from this moment forward?  What can we do to make the world a better place? 

After nearly a week off I am getting back to making what I make.  Working on projects.  Planning to update my Etsy shop with new items this week!  I'm finding inspiration in so many things these days.  I hear my almost-5-year-old say she is bored and I have to laugh.  I can't imagine ever being bored.  I hand her a box of material scraps.

One of our chickens isn't a Wyandotte, like we thought.  She's a golden-laced easter-egger, which I'm told is rare.  We know this because she just started laying and her eggs are blue.  I love nature's little surprises.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week full of love, tenderness and gratefulness.

xoxo

 

 

 

through the eyes

[I'm sorry to wax on about my dog, if you're bored with it, I understand.  But for those of you who can bare with me for another moment here...]

Raji is back to his normal self  and I can't help but wonder if all the tests were wrong.  I check myself though, knowing that even if it was a wrong diagnosis, he is now living beyond a Lab's general expected life span (according to the internet.)

But here's what I want to share today: I've been through something with my boy in this last week. Something huge and all encompassing.  There have been moments, beyond what I've shared yesterday, in which he and I would lock eyes for moments and what I experienced in those moments, I'd only previously read about.

Sure, we all love each other.  Day in and day out we love our family, our pets, our surroundings, even.  But to  "get a hit" so to speak, of the preciousness, the power, the straightforwardness and depth of love, to look into another earthly creatures eyes and feel that love transends our here and now....(Yes.  To trans-end.  Literally, to go across the end.)  That's what love has the power to really do.  And, I know it sounds strange to say I experienced this with my dog, but that's what happened.

I'm not saying I'll always be able to act according to this realization.  (If I did, I'd turn into a saint or other revered figure and heaven knows THAT ain't gonna happen.)  But I'm glad I experienced it nontheless.  I'll hopefully be an ever better dog owner, parent, wife, daughter.

Animals have so much to teach us because they don't judge us, they have very few expectations actually..  Perhaps that is why some people find it easier to connect with animals than their fellow humans.  Animals of all demeanors are always giving us the opportunity to connect with them on a more intelligent level.  They don't expect us to, but they are there if we are willing.  And, if do we take them up on it, perhaps when the end comes for a pet it amounts to the difference between thinking we've "lost" them, or instead knowing beyond a shred of a doubt that we've only gained a universe of love.

My dog taught me this with a few deep stares into my eyes.  Isn't that wonderful?  Isn't that just wonderful?!  Somehow, I let him teach me.  Wow. That's all it takes. Thank you Raji.

boy

Last night, after a plethora of tests, our vet called to tell us that our old boy should be put to sleep this morning. 

We cried all night.  And I mean all night.  The cause was mainly a bleeding cancerous tumor in his spleen, but there were side issues as well. We were shocked that it was all this serious, and doubly saddened by the ironic reality that today is our oldest daughter's 7th birthday.  Not the kind of present you want to give to a child, the death of her beloved doggie.

All night, in between fits of tears, with my boy lying next to me in labored breaths, I drifted through the stars. I  saw the earth from above, and I felt the unfathomable wonder of life.  I remembered hearing once that we are all made of stardust and to stardust we will return, and I knew that to be true then, beyond any shred of doubt.  I knew no matter what, love does not die.  And I allowed myself to let my boy go. The Brad cried some of his very rare tears into our boy's polar bear fur and said his goodbyes as well. I thought about my 7 year old and I realized, that although it didn't sound like a good thing - her dog dying on her birthday- that somehow maybe it could be special and magnificent.

This morning, the girls said their goodbyes, simply blown away by the idea of never seeing him again. 

And then...this boy of ours got up and ate.  He wagged his tail and his ears went up.  I called the vet and told her that for the first time in two days my boy was eating his food.  He was walking.  His tail was wagging.  An ultrasound revealed his internal bleeding had subsided for the moment being.  They pumped him up with fluids. And after getting hydrated he showed his thanks by picking up a plastic door stop with his mouth and walking around the animal hospital with  his tail wagging so hard he curved into the letter "U."

The vet said: He's not going to heaven today. I was free to take him home. 

I can not tell you how precious every last piece of time will be with him.  A day, a week, a month or more.  Whatever it is, we will take it.  We will take it with huge smiles and tears of gratitude and run and run and run (figuratively of course, this boy is no longer a runner or even much of a walker.) 

And so today we are cleaning up for a little party for a very special someone who is so happy her "best friend" will be here for it.

Read more about my boy, Raji, here and here.

 

learning curves

~ I planted all my veggies in the ground because we didn't want pay for the materials, nor take the time to make raised beds for our veggies.  Oh, it's been hard beating the bugs and the crappy soil.  Oh, how I wish we'd just done this all differently.  Organic pest control and compost by the heaping heap and all the hours I can spare out there do help, but it's a battle.  Jeez. We could have just built the damn boxes and this would be somebody else's problem. Oh well.  I'll do my best this year.  My tomatoes are rocking, my snap peas are climbing, but my greens and beans...oh how they suffer.  Next year, I'll make it easier on myself. This year, I'll muddle through because I am not giving up.

~ I am trying out ideas for another project- involving the creation of an embroidery pattern.  It is full of its own little learning curves.  Belieeeevve me.

~Selling some quilts and bibs, and making some more quilts and bibs.  That's what happens now.  Not complaining, mind you...but today I am not all all prepared for Friday's show and will be working into the next few nights, with a messy house.

~Remembering to stop and breath, smell the flowers and feed the fish.  Appreciating and enjoying the descent into Spring, and then Summer.  We can still eat kale that's been shared with bugs, right?  When life gives you ugly bug-eaten kale, make green smoothies!

Have a wonderful rest of your week and weekend and I'll see you soon!

 

'round here

Hey there. Here's what's up in these parts. 

*First, and perhaps most importantly, do you like my new mushroom S&P shakers?  This is vintage Sears, people. I wanted the mugs, too.  But they were a little steeply priced for my likin'.

*How many girls do you know that wear Christmas dresses in April?  Well, now you know at least one.  You are so lucky.  She skips a lot.  And she likes to sweep the floor which she is doing now.  I love this girl more than infinity plus four (to use a term of hers.)

*This dog is on the way to the vet right now. He is old and he out of nowhere licked his back hip deeply bloody within two days.  Prolly arthritis.  Poor man. He's covered in fatty cysts and can't walk very well.  He's ashamed of his boo-boo and can't look us in the eye.  I know people out there who just want their old dogs to "get on with it", so to speak. I am so not one of these people. I am going to get my old man a new bed today.  He peed all over his. And no, he is not the reason my car smells like pee.  He can't get into my car without several people lifting him in, and he is very ashamed about being lifted in so he rarely rides.

*This is my newest quilt.  Foxy Baby.  Maybe I'll put it on Etsy.  Though I have to tell you, I sell much better at the shows so far than on Etsy.  But I'll keep working Etsy because it feels really awesome and ego-boosting to say I sell on Etsy.  Plus: I have some ideas I'm working on that will be pretty cost-effective and good for those who like to embroider.

And thanks for the sweet comments on yesterday's post.  As for the photo, anyone can take an instagram photo of themselves and look good.  Really. Prolly even Charles Manson. 

Also, I'm really into this instagram thing now that I know how it all works.  I have been using it for years, but had no idea how to accept "followers."  (I hate that word.)   I have a picture of my deodorant up so you know I really did lose it in the car (and found it, luckily.)  Also, you can see how gross and dirty my car really is. (Toenail clippers anyone? The Brad has those in there for some reason. And I thought texting and driving was bad!)

And finally, do you want to see how cute my lil' booth was yesterday The Brad said the rug was a bad idea because someone could trip on it and sue me.  Such an upbeat guy, right?  I wouldn't trust the word of a guy who clips his toenails while he drives.  But, that's just me.

(If you want to see the photo links, you have to follow me on Instagram.  Link is in upper right of blog.  My name there is dearcordelia.

XO

 

 

 

 

instant self portrait

Oh.  I can't tell you what a different shift this is.  But I will try.  It's simple really, I guess.  I used to be a full time stay at home mama.  I'm still a full time stay at home mama.  But before, I didn't really work.  Now I'm working my ass off.  From home.  You know this.  It feels good.  But it's also tiring.

Sometimes,  I don't get enough sleep.  Plain and simple.  I don't exercise enough or at all (I used to have the most cut arms.)   I'm so never going to join a gym. Let's face it.  My once lovely and pretty studio is always a mess.  Stuff rots in the fridge.  Just a few things, but like, you know, old black beans.  And my car?  Oh my.  Oh please.  Let's not even go there.  One of my dearest friends told me my car smelled like urine the other day.  I'm an non-exercised post-40 mother in a 10 year old mini-van that smells like urine.  Cat call anyone?

But.  You know and I know I got a lot going for me.  I have these two beautiful girls, for one thing (and ultimately, when it comes down to my fleshy heart, my girls are my world. Period.) Plus, I think the urine smell was a spilled green smoothie.  At least we're eating pretty healthy.

But you know,  between you and me, I should have probably gone to college.  Instead, as usual, I'm making art for a living.  My husband is too.  Which makes us doubly stupid.  Really.  NOT SMART!  But, it feels kinda good, too.  Yeah.  Probably pretty good.  Couldn't do otherwise (evidentally.) And we have this great house and chickens.  And beautiful kids.  A lot of dog crap in the yard that needs to be picked up.  Just thinking out loud here.  And a fairly medium to moderate sized stack of bills.   (Moderate just sounds like a little more than medium.)

Anyway.   What the hell, right?  You get it.  And I love you for getting it.  I know you get it and I love you for getting it.  Most of you get it anyway. 

I promise I'll clean my car next week.  And find my deodorant which is somewhere in there because I had a mammogram yesterday (full post-40) and I couldn't wear deodorant when they squished my boobs in that thing.  So I brought it with me for after.  I lost it in the urine-smelling car.  It is pretty much an enigma, my car.  I wouldn't suggest you ride in it anytime soon.   My house is pretty clean most of the time.  'Cept the fridge.  And the bathroom that Brad uses.  I use the girls bathroom.  It's much cleaner.  His bathroom, that's his dealio.  Unless we have a guest over.  Then I really will get in there.  Scrape and stuff.  You know.  Sometimes I just hand him the toilet brush and I'm like:  Your turn buddy. 

I just don't want a guest in a gross bathroom.  I would just totally die if that ever happened.  My car, that's another story.

Anyway, I should probably head out now.

Ciao.

weekending with habit of being

insta report

Sharing some instagram photos today.  A few snaps from the last few days. 

Spring time weather that is beautiful one moment, and less so the next.  Looks like wind this weekend will possibly make it impossible for me to sell my wares at the two ongoing art shows I now take part in every Friday and Sunday.  Art Shows and weather do not mix and The Brad has complained about it for years.  Now we both complain.

Also in the news: my mom wondered what to get her granddaughters for their birthdays. In a world in which we are neck deep in plastic crap that passes for educational (and blatantly non-educational) toys, we decided on getting them each their own "easy-build" garden bed,  a bunch of soil and compost and whatever the girls wanted to plant.  The older wanted only seeds (sunflower, sage, daisies and sweet peas were her choices) the younger wanted a couple of flowers and mostly, strawberries.   Now that's a present!

I gardened too, of course.  My tomatoes are sporting their first flowers!!! Since I raised them from seeds, it's kind of like finding out you are going to be a grandmother. At 41, I feel a little young to be a grandmother. But, I am really very happy and proud none the less.

And of course coffee.  Before I had my first child  at 33 years old, I never drank coffee. And let's just leave it at that.

Also: I sucked it up and got myself a Facebook Business Page.  If you feel like heading over and "liking" it, I'm not yet sure what it can do for me professionally but it will do wonders for my ego. 

And lastly, a friend of mine alerted me to this cool info page that lets you know what makeup companies do and do not test on animals. I mean come on, man. It's 2013 and this world has a lot of sophisticated shit going on. Do we really need to still test on sweet little bunnies? I think not.

 p.s. a few of you asked for my instagram name: dearcordelia

 

 

lookie.

I want to have some sort of product using embroidery art (such as this one I'm working on) but I'm not sure what to make the embroidered pieces into...little pillows?  Framing them in vintage frames?  I'm stumped! Ideas welcome!

I have added a few things to my Etsy store.  Bibs are now available and a few new quilts.

I finally settled on a linen backing for the bibs because it is sturdier than the other options I tried.  Plus, the linen is 100% cotton. This is very exciting news and should be reported to the media at once.  (No. Really.  You need to call your local news station. There will seriously not be more important news the whole world over.)

Also, check it: I am happy to custom make baby or lap sized quilts in particular colors schemes or styles.  (Someone recently ordered a "nautical style" baby boy quilt, for example.)

And so. Guess what else? I would like to offer my blog readers a 15% discount throughout the month of April on all custom and Etsy orders. 

If you are going to order off Etsy, please Email Me before you order so I can discount the price in the shop right before you pay. (For information on custom quilt sizes and prices also contact me.)