Beating the Drum… For a Friend!

I just received a wonderful e-mail from Baba Brinkman.  He is opening tonight at the Soho Playhouse in New York with the off-Broadway run of the Rap Guide to Evolution!

I want to wish him the best and I think that the best way to do this is to put this here in my blog!  I have listened to this man in concert.  I have met him and spoken with him.  I have used his lyrics in my essays!  He has an incredible sense of humor, and responsibility.  I am one of those middle-aged women he good-humoredly talks about who attends his rap concerts….  I believe him when he says that he is the only rap artist around with peer reviewed lyrics!

He is worth listening to!  Take a few minutes to follow the links.  His recordings are online and available for listening to right now!

Busy…

I have a psychology paper due tomorrow.  A report on a mini-survey we did (basically this is just a first attempt for most of us in the class at doing a survey, compiling statistics, and writing a report).  The programs I need to work out the statistics and do the writing are not cooperating.  I have brought everything to work with me to try to figure this out on a different computer…

There is an English paper due next Tuesday.  A comparison of the characters Kurtz (from Conrad’s Heart of Darkness) and Septimus (from Woolf‘s Mrs. Dalloway).  Although I have not started writing it yet, I have done most of the background work – reading and research.  I think I know where to start.  And, I will start tonight, right after English class!

Forget about Craigslist!  I think I may have landed a wholesaler for my buttons!  She picked out just about every fabric and fabric/lace combination I have so far made and asked for 12 of each in each size!  I can give her the first batch on Thursday.  I need more pieces of vintage lace (what I look for is damaged or stained lace and lace fabric that can be re-used without guilt).  I have been sneaking in a dozen buttons between each chapter of the novels I am reading, between each section of the textbook I am reading, every time I get stuck with a bit of writing I am attempting….

It isn’t even time for mid-terms yet and I am so tired!  I keep reminding myself that this first button order should be enough to pay for textbooks next semester!

Hand-made Button Ad…

I put my buttons on Craigslist…

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Playing with buttons! I found a way to reduce my stash of antique and vintage fabrics and laces! I made buttons… Now, I have a stash of really beautiful buttons!

If you knit, crochet, weave, sew, embroider, scrapbook, craft, quilt…. If you love fabric and buttons…. I have some buttons that I think you would like to see.

Prices start at less than $1.

Send me a note and we can meet for coffee somewhere. And, play with buttons in front of everyone!

Vintage Fabrics - White Lace and Pale Olive Green Silk

Vintage Fabric - Net over Black Cotton w/ Painted Gold Leaves

I have advertised on Craigslist before – usually when I am looking for something.  And, I have had success in doing this!  But, I have not advertised to sell things before and I have heard a few horror stories.  Here’s to crossed fingers….

Tea Cups

I love tea cups!  and saucers!  and pretty plates full of hors d’oeuvres and dainty pastries.  And, if anyone who did not know me very, very well tried to pair me to that

Royal Albert, Lavender Rose (1982 - 2008)

statement… Well, be prepared for an argument.  I used to work in steel construction and now I work in a welding shop.  And, I own a whole bunch of tea cups, saucers, pretty plates and whatnots.  But, I do not collect them.  Instead, I sell them – to collectors!  Although I do have to admit that I really do enjoy having them around while they are here!

So, I often wonder what other people do with tea cups.  Those teacups

Aynsley, Flow Blue with Hand-Painted Flowers

and saucers that leave my friendly over-crowded desk.  Do they end up forever in the rarified air of pristine china cabinets?  Locked away forever from flavourful teas and plates and crumbs on the tablecloths?  Or do they find their way to some other cluttered, cozy desktop where the scented steam of herbs and flowers takes it’s ease with an afternoons work?

I am day-dreaming about my time spent living in camp in Northern Canada.  Usually only two or three weeks at a time

Royal Albert, Gaiety (1927 - 1935)

but enough that many of the people I worked with thought that they new me.  I am thinking that only two or three might be able to keep a straight face if they read this post.  I have no idea why this makes me smile.  I’m not really secretive about who I am, I guess that maybe I just like surprising people!  And, I like tea cups….

The Westcoast Salmon Industry, Thoughts of 1907

I listed a postcard for sale today.  The postmark date is 1907.  The caption reads “B.C. Fishing Industry: A Morning‘s Delivery – 100,000 Salmon.”  I don’t think for a minute that this was an unusual occurrence.  Cause for celebration?  Yes!  But not unusual.  I think the salmon in 1907 were still being thought of as an unlimited source of food and revenue.

In 2010 we had a run which was a cause for celebration here.  The most confusing buzz words I heard were “over-spawning”.  The run we had last summer was maybe 1/10th of what it should have been.  How could anyone believe that over-spawning would even be possible.  Not now.  I have already heard the old fishermen talking with one another about this year’s salmon season.  Last year they were happy to have  a few openings, then they were overjoyed to have made a bit of money.  Now they are back to anger over what they see will be a year of mockery – there will be fish but no fishing…

Most of the salmon species run in a four year cycle.  Last years run will be back, in fewer numbers three years from now.  Not this year.  Not next year.  This photograph is simply a memory.  It is something we need to keep in mind when we fail to plan for the future.

Button Addiction or Button Fetish?

I will admit to loving buttons!  They are small, can be beautiful, are easily collectible, and very easy to imagine doing all kinds of things with….

Studying today!  Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.  Although I am beginning to enjoy it, the book is difficult to read and requires breaks!  Taking a break by replying to

Buttons as a Fetish? Maybe! hmmm...

submissions of psych article paraphrasing – well, I just needed more of a break!  Buttons!

I made these ones!  I made some before and gave them away as samples at a few yarn and fabric shops.  (I really am hoping to sell a few wholesale – it really would help with tuition…)  I needed more.  They are just too pretty not to have on my Etsy site.

These ones are not easy to make though.  The lace has a corded edging around the motifs that the cover backings DO NOT like!  I found that if I trimmed the first layer of cotton lining down (way down) that this reduced the bulk to where I am just pressing the vintage silk and lace fabrics into the backings.  That worked, but not before I wrecked a couple of backings….  The result was worth the trials!

Vintage olive green silk (with a very soft shade of plum that shows through at angles) and vintage white synthetic lace.  I think these are even better than the buttons I left at the shops!  I made six.  I think I have fabric for six more!  I think I can make 1-1/8″ buttons out of this combination.  The ones that I made today are 1-1/2″ across.

Success and it’s still early Saturday afternoon.  I am heading back to the books now – I have had a good break!

Leslie

A Recipe for Buttons

I know all about Christmas in July but how about Christmas in May? Well, since this is my birthday month…. I don’t see why not!

I found about two meters of this wonderful red/green metallic wire edged ribbon in one of my treasure boxes. I’ve been making buttons lately! The rest is simply, ummm…. fabrication? Okay, that was silly! But definitely good enough for a smile!

Three of my metallic buttons

Every button that I make has at least two layers of fabric. This is because without a second layer, the silver metal of the backing shows through the cloth. I don’t like this!

This ribbon was just crying to be turned into buttons! The only buttons it was wide enough to cover are the smallest buttons I have. It took a bit of experimenting! My first attempt was a layer of ribbon over white – No, that didn’t work. The ribbon lost all the the color and just washed out. Then I tried the ribbon over red. This definitely did not work. It just turned my beautiful ribbon muddy! Over black? Better, but not great. Brainstorm! Two layers over black! Perfect! Beautiful!!!!

More buttons....

The only problem with two layers of slippery, ravelly, unbelievably misbehaving ribbon over a tiny little circle of black cotton is that none of the three layers wanted to go in the same direction! This took a bit of practice! I am proud to state that I have conquered the technique and here are the results.

Uses for Buttons: Only limited by our imaginations! These are wonderful buttons which would be a creative gift for any special crafty types….

Have a great weekend!

… Leslie

Russell’s Tea Pot

Russell’s tea pot.  Not just any tea pot.  A beautiful blue teapot.  I just learned about this tea pot today.  I need more…

New Year’s Wish

My best wishes for you, for a happy and healthy Year….

For the Last Three Nights…

… someone has been outside my apartment, down on the street, screaming.  Mostly it is just one word, “FUCK!” Shouted over and over again at the top of their lungs.  Every so often, there are other words, “YOU RUINED MY LIFE!” and “I HATE YOU!”  Most of the rest of it is unintelligible.

I am a second year psychology student.  I was told today to put my studies to use and try to understand this guy.  WHAT?  Okay, so I have a guy in my neighborhood screaming at the top of his lungs while I am trying to sleep and I am supposed to understand him?  Okay…  I understand that he is angry and frustrated.  I understand that my friend has a bit of understanding to get to before she tries to offer this guy a cup of tea or something equally silly.

I understand that I am not cut out to be a counselor.  The most amazing thing about the psychology courses, and I really do hope that I am wrong about this, is that I will be able to do counseling when I graduate, even if I only take the one mandatory course.  One course!  That’s it!  I am much more interested in writing and research than in counseling.  I do not have the patience to listen to people endlessly going on (or screaming) about themselves.

I find it amazing that I am expecting you to read this!  Although, I think I would read it, if I found it in someone else’s blog.  It’s simply a bit of introspection aroused by the pain of a fellow human being, who is screaming outside of my apartment…

Sleep will be dear again tonight.

I wrote this very late last night.  I did not post it right away because I was thinking that it was not a very positive post.  But then, if all of my posts were to be positive, this would not be a very honest journal…  I think I will keep this an honest account of things I feel, see, and do.  It feels better that way.