There's sand in my hair..

And I feel some in my eyes. But it's worth the fun I'm having working on this mosaic project with Isaiah Zagar. We're covering Colleen's walls at Black ~n~ Brew and it's been a wonderful time learning technique and tricks. We started the project Saturday and what was to be a two day project has turned into four since the skies cried upon our water soluble adhesive.

We began cutting mirror at the beginning of the day to place on either side of Isaiah's design already outlined on the wall. Then we went to the site to start placing pieces. There were about 20 of us and it was pretty incredible to see how fast the work went. There were big 'blob' pieces already mounted on the wall. These are made by troweling leftover cement grout onto a plastic drop. Then ceramics and various glass/painted tile are stuck into it and left to dry.

This arrowhead like tile was my favorite piece I put up.

And here's my favorite portion that I did while standing on three milk crates.


Isaiah is quite a character and I really enjoy working with him. I didn't realize his wife owns one of my favorite shops in town where I get my bellydance gear. Also, his son is just about to release his documentary on their family's life which should be really interesting.

http://www.inadreammovie.com/

Isaiah laughed and said it didn't paint a very good picture of him. (described as revealing their tumultuous marriage ~ gasp! let me see a marriage that isn't) (ummm, except yours mother, but that doesn't count since it belongs in make believe world) A girl Lily asked if he was upset with his son over the movie and Isaiah said of course he couldn't be, which I found really endearing. He has a lot of great answers for things. Like when a man came up to ask him questions and one of the girls said "that must happen to you everywhere" he said back "not in my bedroom" I burst out laughing.

I also burst out laughing at his analogy of something needing to loose it's clothing. Mainly I laughed because his work is pretty sexual, or more anatomical i guess, and people just don't know what to do with that. It's incredibly amusing how awkward someone can be looking at a drawing of an outlined man with a detailed penis that you can't pretend to not notice. It's the "I'll hide my embarrassment to show appreciation" look. But one guy who said what everyone was thinking "dude, what's with all the penises?" more of my laughter fell out.

here's a pic after grouting.

here I am with Isaiah.

It's probably too wordy to describe the process, so if you are interested I can tell you, but I'll spare that here.

I'm gonna post this since I'm packed with volunteer work tomorrow and work and finishing the mosaic and trying to at some point fit in moving? ugh. but at some point I'll write about the rest of the experience.
I'm too tired right now from burger/reuben night with Ang. We laugh at how much we both eat and always order desert. Though tonight we were too late to get belgian tavern donuts. poo.

also, i have a pic coming of my latest print made. here's more from this weekend/mon.

Little Piggy got her head stuck

I leave the room for ONE second! She's such a little snarfer. At least this time she got into something actually meant for her. But I had to laugh and snap a picture instead of helping her get it off her head. silly.

In other Piggy news, today we made Little Piggy Pot Pies in class. The kids mixed the veggie, water, cream soup, and chicken together and placed biscuits they arranged in the shape of pigs on top. We cooked em and finished actually within time today! They were pretty good even though we had to set them at assigned seats today. Two of them had an argument going on between them but we talked through it a bit and then by the end of class they were helping each other and saying thank you :)

I felt bad passing the younger kids class. Tahmaj who used to be in our class but now turned away since he's younger than 7 ran out and said "I want to be in your cooking class" I was pretty sad about that.

New job day #2 tomorrow. First day went pretty well and I really like everyone there. They all get along and are even friends. That's important so I was glad to see it.

Annnnnd, my bellydance troupe Rag Tag had it's first performance Sunday! We did pretty darn well and were in synch and looked awesome! We're working on our second performance for a guys party in March, which will also be awesome!

I'm winding down for the night and it's only 8:30! I forgot how nice it is to be a daywalker.

Craft Night!

Some of my bellydance troupe and I had a craft night last friday! Very fun and neat to see others projects they work on. Such a creative crew. There were cute black cats to help me knit and make sure the yarn was sturdy.



We have a performance coming up on the 15th which I'm very excited about. We're practicing tomorrow at my house and are figuring out our costume! Nice.

I saw The Wrestler yesterday and enjoyed it very much. Mickey Rourke as a washed up old Pro Wrestler with bleached blonde 80's band hair. He was pretty exceptional in it.

Unfortunately my class was canceled today and the school was closed where I was supposed to go in with Kasia to a career fair to talk about Therapy dogs and volunteering. So that'll be next week. So instead I scouted out some fabrics for hip scarves and caught up with some tea at a cafe and knitted.

I think I'm on knitting overstimulation and don't know which project to try and finish. Ack! But here's my done bellydance belt (with my new pants underneath that goes with some tops I got. so cute)



Ever trying to figure out my work situation and what is up next in life. I'm still not sold on changing my car info and license to PA but I'm gonna bite my lip and just do it I guess!

Sigh, I wish I had a puppet master.

Here's to your nutrition

I made a feast last night! Salmon cakes, polenta, broccoli, with a honey dijon vinegrette. Yum!! I get flack for not eating well. Personally I think cooking for yourself is overrated and at the base of what's wrong with the world today. heehee. Anyways, here's my smorgasbourg fit for a Templeton Rat.


In other news; I slept through the inauguration and awoke to finish my slouchy hat. Don't worry folks I caught the speech later via videostream for my casual enjoyment. The hat was made out of yarn I recycled from a thrift store scarf I bought for a buck. It was exactly the type of yarn I was looking for and worked perfectly since it unraveled really easily. The pattern was called sneaky snakes slouchy hat and I'm proud to say I did not divert at all from the pattern, though now would make some changes to it. It came out rather well I'll say.

I'm soon to be off to bellydance with a newly jangled belt I adourned with cut apart necklaces I found appropriately in a necklace store. Pics of that to come but here's my just done hat!


Perhaps tonight I'll start the beret I've been commissioned to make for Papa!

Warm Snake Arms

Finished my bellydance arm warmers! I suppose they don't have to just be for bellydancing but that was what I made them for so that's what I'm calling them. They're a little different from each other but it's not hugely noticeable so I'll ignore it. I find I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of knitter. Sort of using a pattern but not really using it. I wasn't sure two skeins of this bulky stuff would be enough but it turned out to be just right and up to the elbows like I wanted.

I do believe I'm going to knit some knee high socks next if I can figure out the foot part. Or possibly a belly top since I'm on the things to wear to bellydance class kick (currently I'm crocheting arm bands to go with a belt I did).

Had a good day today with a museum, indian food, and a movie all with good company. I've been craving indian food and I don't know if I satisfied it completely since I'm a little mouth watery over thinking about samosas but I dampered it.

The penn museum of archeology is quite a place with tons of neat stuff to oogle. I can't even process all I saw but a few things stuck out like chinese lions, islamic moonlights, a huge crystal ball, and Qilin statues that I wanted to ride (half dragon half lions).

I'm sad I ate all my marzipan piggies but dark chocolate with caramel filling is mighty good!

Oh to be a honey bee...

Pollenatin flowers and buzzin around in the springtime breeze.

But I only have chilling wind howling at my puppies ears. Oh well, to savor the spring we must swallow the winter I guess. or something. This puppy makes me feel warm and snugly though.


While I haven't been a honey bee, I have been a busy bee! knitting left and right, crocheting and making prints all for christmas. Those that follow this blog probably already know this, since they were the benefactors of my handmade gifts this year, except Robby who was MIA! I got everything done knitting up to the last minute (literally) and now I've moved on to projects for little 'ol selfish me.

Currently I'm working on some bellydance goodies like a belt and arm warmers. I have one arm warmer done and it looks amazing!! and..I have no idea how I'm going to replicate it for the other arm. hmm. rats buckets.

here's a few of the gifts;


Mama's bird print I made but didn't sign (I will I promise!)

And Ishmael's print for his birthday.



I made knittings for Amy and Eric. Amy got a cell phone cozy and ankle warmers. Eric got a camera case and soap in a sweater. (It felts in the shower and shrinks with the soap. cool!)

And Kasia got to open her gifts! Umm, those aren't all hers, though she did try to open them. Such a good puppy waiting all day and really being tortured by them sitting there!


Finally!!!


And making his debut in my blog is Miles, my belly. My Christmas belly!


ate waaayyy too much yorkshire pudding. mmmm.

New Years tomorrow... which doesn't usually mean big stuff to me, but something will be done I'm sure. Kasia hasn't shared her resolutions but she was making a list. Donny called her fat so maybe trimming down is on it!

I should be sleeping...

But I have beats running through my head.

This week has been full of BuildaBridge activities. We had our ending celebration on Wed. night. We made pizzas with the kids and their families. They had their dance celebration while they cooked, and then everyone sat down to fellowship together.

After that I picked up Ishmael from the tea house and since we didn't have time to go to the Tulva throat singing concert, we decided to see a movie and get some duck dinner. Papa had us both craving duck after thanksgiving so we had some really good asian dishes and caught the movie Slumdog Millionaire. It was a good flick. I reccomend it (not too graphic for you ma) I love going to movies by myself, though, I have to say it's fun to sit next to someone :)

Today I just got done with the Latin rythym workshop I signed up to help with. It was totally worth only getting 3 hours of sleep after working an overnight shift. Held out on 43rd street in a huge church, I walked into the office not knowing where to go. There was a group of women laughing at one of the toddlers strutting around in diapers, cowboy boots, sunglasses, and a scarf. Really cute and a good way to start things out. Found where to go and went downstairs to help set up. We had a proffessional drummer, Josh, running things and ready to teach instrument making and beat laying.

The women and kids came downstairs, sleepy and a little not ready to have loud noises played. Josh started playing on one of the buckets, and you could tell everyone had no choice but to wake up fast. We played a couple games with making up beats and listening to each other. A few people weren't so enthusiastic but they warmed up in the next part where we made our instruments. Josh showed us how to make drums, shakers, and mallets out of everyday materials like cans and soda bottles. I helped the toddler from upstairs make a mallet and beat on a drum.

We sat in a circle and had a little jam session. Everyone was into it, all the kids were following the rythym and everyone did a solo. The people who were rolling their eyes were drumming and connecting with everyone and it was just really awesome. The young ones were following how to make different sounds and get the drum to change pitch. The teens were being really inventive with their drum creations and adding grips on the mallets. So much fun to be a part of this. I'll get some pictures up when I get them, but here's my drum and little shaker!



And now I sleep to be able to go to holiday party tonight with Ishmael without shut eyes. More fun!

~also, I have a print job on monday which is great! no so great it's right after my overnight but I'll deal. I can sleep anytime yes?