tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39052251539485095872024-03-12T23:49:58.399-07:00The Curious Pebble Project<center><strong>Random Acts of Art... One Girl's Quest</strong></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-409639899185412292013-06-07T19:16:00.001-07:002013-06-07T19:25:41.723-07:00Sourdough Breadzza Semi-Disaster<div id="dE_H" style=";width:100%; height:100%; ;"><br><br><br><div><img id="img00a125d4-4ce0-418d-84e2-bf0ac437a2c8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dGeccc8To6U/UbKT62H5q7I/AAAAAAAACy4/4fTLuvaSa6c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:411px;width:550px;opacity:1;left:335px;top:265px" class="" mvc="false"></div><br>Looks delicious, no?? Keep reading.<br><br><div>Once upon a time a baker on Fisherman's Wharf in San Fransisco started making sourdough bread. There was something about the San Fransisco air that made the sourdough starter particularly awesome. Eventually, it became a franchised, much-better-than-fast-food restaurant, and one of the most recent franchises opened on my neighborhood a few years ago. My neighborhood NOT being on Fisherman's Wharf, with it's groovy sourdough yeast spores naturally zooming through the air or whatevs, so they fly in the sourdough "mother" weekly. On an airplane and stuff.</div><div><br></div><div>Crazy.</div><div><br></div><div>Crazy GOOD.</div><br><div>Anyway, the restaurant has a promo thingie, where if you check in on your smart phone on each visit, you earn a free loaf of bread per month for the first six months or something. I dunno. I didn't pay that much attention. I heard "free bread" and was all in. </div><div><br></div><div>So, I take my little guy (who finished 6th grade today, btw, so not that little, really) and his bestie there for lunch as a little end of the school year treat. And guess what? Today was a free loaf day for me, so, SCORE!</div><br><div>And, it's Friday, which just means PIZZA around here. Often I make it from scratch (dough included), sometimes we order in, sometimes we go out to one of our favorite pizza places. But something about my free loaf of sourdough made me a little giddy this afternoon, and I remembered that much of the USA eats French bread pizza, so why the heck not sourdough bead pizza?</div><div><br></div><div>Only problem was, 6 year old Miss Thing has an extremely loose, owie front tooth (as in it's sort of grotesque, even) and there was no way she was going to be able to bite though the super thick, crusty-crust that this bread is famous for. Hmmm. What to do?</div><div><br></div><div>Instead of the traditional French Bread Pizza sliced horizontally down the middle... Slice it in thick pieces like it was bread (cause, it IS!) and go from there...</div><br><div>But! Then I thought that maybe the sauce would make the bread all googy and soggy, and that wasn't appealing in the slightest. So I hatched a plan. Turns out that it was a good one.</div><br><div>I have this method of making a crostini-ish garlic bread, wherein I slice up a baguette, brush each slice with Olive Oil, sprinkle with garlic powder (<i>yeah, that's totally cheating. Don't care</i>) and basil, then top it off with fresh grated Parmesian Reggiano or Romano. Then I put it under the broiler for just a few minutes-- <i>careful or it will burn... and quickly</i>-- et viola! Mi famiglia's favorite garlic bread. The top of my garlic bread is toasted and crusty... Awesome.</div><br><div>So, huh. Maybe if I made it like my garlic bread and THEN added the pizza sauce and toppings it would fend off the soggies?</div><div><br></div><div>Oh em gee, it totally did, youse guys. And, since I placed it on the bottom rack for the second cooking, the bottom got crispy too, which is nothing to sneeze at, either. </div><br><div>In truth, I was the only one who liked it. I used tomato *paste* instead of sauce, hoping that would be thicker and less likely to sog it all up, and my husband said that that was too "bright" tasting (I beg to differ). And then, Miss Thing also has a canker sore in addition to her terribly wiggly tooth, so not only couldn't she bite into it, she couldn't chew it, either (I made her oatmeal), and my son, halfway through his first piece sided with daddy and made himself some Ramen noodles (don't judge me. Sometimes it's the only thing he WILL eat).</div><div><br></div><div>So, bummer. </div><br><div>Honest to Pete, though, it WAS good. And the method was inspired, even if no one liked the sauce, and complained about the cheese coverage or (rather) lack thereof. Personally, I would eat pizza withOUT cheese, so I thought it was nice of me to include a little at ALL, really... I think there were a few other complaints thrown in there, too, but I stopped listening at some point, as I'm prone to do. Sigh. </div><br><div>I swear every time I try to do something different from my five or six meals that I KNOW 3 out of 4 of them will happily eat, they get all revolutionary on me. And then they wonder why I'm all grumpy about it and stuff. I am so tired of always making the same things. I know Miss Thing will grow out of it (mostly, it's her causing a scene these days while my eldest is suddenly eating Thai food where he couldn't handle a little black pepper on his baked potato a year ago), but, ugh.</div><br><div>Am I alone in generally refusing to cook a second "special" meal for a little one (I did make her oatmeal tonight, because she was obviously in pain and not just being stubborn)? I was always expected to not only eat what was on my plate, but to do so without complaining, or that would be that, end of conversation, to my room, hungry and too bad so sad, thanks for playing. </div><div><br></div><div>Discuss.</div><div><br></div><br><div><img id="img02e8e05d-ccb5-4425-971e-5862caa9cca5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PNp6zR2H6oU/UbKT7gm7UKI/AAAAAAAACzA/oBnqCDOJgm4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:411px;width:550px"></div><br>I'm going to give a piece to Andy. He'll eat it.<br><br><div><br><br></div><br><div><br><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-40594757648771792122013-04-10T12:08:00.001-07:002013-04-10T12:50:24.825-07:00She is SIX...<div id="dE_H" style=";width:100%; height:100%; ;"> ...How did THAT happen???<div><br></div><br><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgc300816b-825e-40aa-b21d-25ae0e7c8b96" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgc300816b-825e-40aa-b21d-25ae0e7c8b96').src); return false;"><img id="img7b6f3aef-bd8b-417a-94a7-50b227ef9a1d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y1sBM2czjco/UWXBso3jmgI/AAAAAAAACtM/zBkoNcCBYcc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><br>Well, it did. And of course, there was a party. We RAN to the park, clucking like chickens for some reason (<i>six year olds!)</i> where we found paper bags and paints all set up for making paper bag hats. Top right, is Miss M digging into the paint for her hat. Paper Bag Hats are so easy and fun! <br><div><br></div><div>PAPER BAG HATS: Use a standard grocery bag, *carefully* turn it inside out (remove handles, if necessary), and sloppily roll the edges up to form the hat. Rolling too tightly makes the hat too big and crushes the paper, so make your rolls big and bunchy. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Messiness is no problem with this project, and it doesn't have to be perfect. </span>For really little kids, I've found that "pegging" the bag, (like we did the ankles of our jeans in the 90's, remember? We were super-bad!) works really well. Give the kids lots of colors to choose from, and make SURE the paint is washable! Go play some games while the paint dries and wear your creations proudly!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgdebccb52-1958-4c73-a3f3-78c34c5466e4" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgdebccb52-1958-4c73-a3f3-78c34c5466e4').src); return false;"><img id="img703c4b17-7c9c-43b2-9956-3987988d32c1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XYZxIHm1544/UWXBt4xbp9I/AAAAAAAACtU/WwNH_CoPF7E/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div><div>Top, right, you can see my son sneaking up on me to jam one on my head and the (blurry) result in bottom right. Bottom left are two much bigger boys (my son and his BFF) in their Minecraft inspired creations. If you have any computer geeks in your house, or are one yourself, you may recognize a Minecraft Pig and a Creeper painted on their hats/masks. Those two are h.i.l.a.r.i.o.u.s. and I'm pretty sure that they are the Mutt and Jeff of the 21st Century. Also in this collage is a cutie patootie from down the street playing with a hula hoop. I could just eat him up.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimg45a95820-40c4-4450-8b53-90fc2d935903" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('img45a95820-40c4-4450-8b53-90fc2d935903').src); return false;"><img id="img62ea1411-f29b-498d-a527-4d23bc4bd984" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C8CUI2FPjLM/UWXBvDwmfbI/AAAAAAAACtc/-xdmDZN9kW0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div>While the paint on the paper bag hats was drying, there was a scavenger hunt based on things the kids could find at the park. <div><br></div><div>SCAVENGER HUNT: I made a quick trip to the park a few days before the party to see what could be found and took pictures (most of the kids aren't readers just yet), and photoshopped the pictures onto card stock (see bottom left image). Then, I just pasted the scavenger hunt cards onto treat bags, so that a.) the kids would have somewhere to out their "finds" and b.) so that the cards wouldn't be lost. The kids found as many things as they could, and brought the bags back to me for prizes/party favors (we returned the "finds" to the wild). I also had them write their names on the bag so they could keep it to fill with piñata candy and more party favors later. </div><div><br></div><div>Of course, the punch balloon favors were immediately blown up and (mostly) popped. Hey! It's not a party until the balloons pop!<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimg99bd13e7-2faf-473c-a1d0-f5aff01bf7ec" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('img99bd13e7-2faf-473c-a1d0-f5aff01bf7ec').src); return false;"><img id="img99bd13e7-2faf-473c-a1d0-f5aff01bf7ec" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cL1nRuxV8W0/UWXCfcqlzwI/AAAAAAAACuk/qdex_JD5Ypg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height: 550px; width: 550px; opacity: 1; " class=""></a></div><br><div>There were healthy(ish) treats to be had, and these two partygoers had quite a rousing conversation about how delicious/disgusting tomatoes are. That sweet little boy was popping cherry tomatoes in his mouth like candy. I heart him. </div><div><br></div><div>You might notice the cupcakes, bottom left... Yes, they are UNfrosted... You'll see why in a minute. The cupcake stand, I threw together with some hot glue, candlesticks and serving platters/plates that I had on hand. I did this last year, too... Except that, LAST year, the hot glue separated easily after the party. This time, I think I might have used a little too much hot glue! HAHAHA! Cupcake Stand for LIFE! </div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgf85dc30f-da06-4ca1-a579-15419d7c6b5c" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgf85dc30f-da06-4ca1-a579-15419d7c6b5c').src); return false;"><img id="img22529514-ec99-452f-be06-1d08c786e0ab" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2juzzTaQC3w/UWXBxBLxS0I/AAAAAAAACts/j6m252vBKsc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div><div>After the kids made their hats, had a couple of sack races and played for a while, I started assembling the DIY CUPCAKE BAR. I thought it was a stroke of genius, and the kids LOVED it. So, no, the plain, unfrosted cupcakes didn't look so party-perfect on the cupcake stand.... But, I knew if I frosted them beforehand, the frosting would harden, and the toppings wouldn't stick. </div><div><br></div><div>DIY CUPCAKE BAR: If you want to try this at your next party, I HIGHLY recommend it! First, I filled two cupcake trays with different toppings (I used mini marshmallows, mini M&Ms, crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, gummy worms and different colored sprinkles). Then, I gave each kid a little cocktail spoon and told them they could top their cupcakes however they wanted, but to p<u>lease take one only little spoon of each topping</u> so that everyone could have what they wanted (gummy Worms being the exception... everyone got a gummy worm). I frosted each cupcake on the fly as I handed them out to the kids, and then the kids got to work on the toppings. </div><div><br></div><div>The sprinkles were flying, the gummies were slurped, crushed cookie bits raining down... SUPER FUN! It totally worked! But, I'm really glad that I covered the tables with parcel paper! GAH!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimg2d27665f-ccde-47c1-af84-8ce8eb8098d5" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('img2d27665f-ccde-47c1-af84-8ce8eb8098d5').src); return false;"><img id="imge1d4cd01-79a5-48f9-8369-d423a5e434e3" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uMTFXJThjGA/UWXByfX2jJI/AAAAAAAACt0/1K2JIc6KJ0k/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div><div>Of course, the BEST PART about decorating your own cupcake is EATING IT!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgc0537b89-e3ce-4354-842b-04e1008b5f77" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgc0537b89-e3ce-4354-842b-04e1008b5f77').src); return false;"><img id="imgd0df2959-e360-4496-b114-9932df6ba21c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_g6MJjStMQc/UWXBzrxc2YI/AAAAAAAACt8/vmh2hMc40WI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div><div>Look at those happy faces! I do believe my son was making a Minecraft cupcake, naturally (bottom right). Looks like a dirt block, <a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/2012/04/minecraft-cake-fit-for-ten-year-old.html">reminiscent of his birthday cake last year.</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgec967681-a2b9-4513-bea6-803fd6acfee9" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgec967681-a2b9-4513-bea6-803fd6acfee9').src); return false;"><img id="imga20e001c-21f2-4588-98bc-856b02b42b90" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iDvOMQWCIK8/UWXB01pJ-PI/AAAAAAAACuE/SuWidPjHGv4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><br>And there was still time to play... And also get covered in paint! Hahaha! Sorry, mom... But it SHOULD come out in the wash.... In the same picture, you can see our painted hats drying on garden stakes. I had actually made sweet little coffee filter flower and streamers toppers for the garden stakes, knowing I wouldn't have a lot of time to decorate the park, and I figured I could just poke decorated stakes in the ground to gussy up the park a little (<a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/2012/04/paper-plate-birdie-bunting-with-coffee.html">coffee filter flowers were based on the ones I made last year)</a>. That was easy, too. And, it made a durn good spot for the hats to dry!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><img id="imgf044ae4c-bb4a-4455-bb49-e61f9f243f11" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5zFZLDHBEH8/UWXB2PMHnyI/AAAAAAAACuM/FauhuG1SKAw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px"></div><br>The big boys had a go at some sort of hybrid sack race/three-legged race of their own.... Which worked out exactly as I suspected it would. BOMP!<br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimg58fa03a8-b8c4-4f47-8b38-0a05c7c432fd" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('img58fa03a8-b8c4-4f47-8b38-0a05c7c432fd').src); return false;"><img id="img4e874580-d668-456c-b415-2208d1f80177" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-caFNYz_8Zj0/UWXB3fyIHyI/AAAAAAAACuU/YATrVI0WuiM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div><div>My husband has a new camera (HE took all these photos, btw... I was kinda busy!) and got to playing with the filters. These are a little dark, but the ATTITUDE is totally visible. Oh.my.WORD. Is she six or sixTEEN???</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgb561c97d-2c93-495f-bac9-ccd7dc71d0ed" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgb561c97d-2c93-495f-bac9-ccd7dc71d0ed').src); return false;"><img id="imgcb8a3453-d1ec-4107-9d81-359b6222f946" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-omkyRQyw0TA/UWXB4joHrVI/AAAAAAAACuc/Sd82_TZaYgI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:550px;width:550px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><div><br></div><div>I had also made a cake for the grown ups, but as it turned out, nearly everyone just dropped their kids off at the party (!) so I saved it for later and Miss M blew out her candle that night. </div><div><br></div><div>Happy Birthday, Baby. You are just my kinda girl.</div><br></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-17229348911410415752013-03-18T17:17:00.001-07:002013-03-18T17:17:28.598-07:00A Little Catching Up<div id="dE_H" style=";width:100%; height:100%; ;"> A hugemongous Thank You to those of you who said such nice things about my continuing on with this blog, even if time changes it into something else. I think you might be right.<div><br></div><div></div><br><div><a target="_blank" href="#" id="lnkimgb95f4d4d-3630-4b76-b009-a4c81693f4ee" onclick="window.open(document.getElementById('imgb95f4d4d-3630-4b76-b009-a4c81693f4ee').src); return false;"><img id="imgb95f4d4d-3630-4b76-b009-a4c81693f4ee" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zqKmNqXhcC8/UUeuije82eI/AAAAAAAACpc/Y9YA7OZScY8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:350px;width:350px;opacity:1" class=""></a></div><br><div>Where else am I going to post contrite pictures of my puppy when he does this sort of thing? Hmmmm?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="img142de642-af76-45ff-a45e-4dee7d5b8e08" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P1kb_NvgfWc/UUeujaGoQcI/AAAAAAAACpk/iW1Z5NBxETU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:350px;width:350px"></div><br><div>Or, the amazingly categorical arrangement of shells my son made on my dining room table at 6am a few weeks ago?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="img8fd04361-b3fe-40e5-9d77-783ad5a99920" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FEIGxH5Mh08/UUeuj1TtNDI/AAAAAAAACps/8y3NpE7gb8o/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:261px;width:350px;opacity:1;left:235px;top:190px" mvc="false" class=""></div><br><div>How about the mini-Dalek I crocheted for my brother for Christmas that made him laugh so hard that he cried?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="img28f44c49-ff11-4a2e-b705-3e1d15b3c8f6" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lLXC4cK2ci0/UUeuk2YxKWI/AAAAAAAACp0/VmRqni663EQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:468px;width:350px;opacity:1;left:235px;top:294px" mvc="false"></div><br><div>The "Please Ring Bell" weirdness that someone (actually, it was two someones) chalked on my screen door months and months ago, and which remains because it Never-Ever rains hard enough or long enough to wash it away, and at this point, it's become an experiment in longevity, and I fully expect it to be there when both kids have graduated High School?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="imgf196cf70-f2a0-4587-9f96-7edb50eed03c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IC90eMKWFk4/UUeulhyZ0OI/AAAAAAAACp8/tuc5RLGWZkI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="height:468px;width:350px;opacity:1;left:235px;top:294px" mvc="false" class=""></div><div><br></div><div>And *where would we be* without Miss M in a paper plate Dr. Seuss hat?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Nowhere. That's where.<div><br></div><div>Things change. Life moves. We must move with it. And so, I shall.</div><div><br></div><div>See you around, kids. I'll be here. And, Thank You.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><br></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-69545468628840639192013-03-12T18:05:00.000-07:002013-03-12T19:31:47.170-07:00So... It's been awhile...<div id="dE_H" style=";width:100%; height:100%; ;"><div>.<span style="font-size: small; ">..but I know there are at least two of you wondering if I fell off the face of the earth, or what?!?!</span></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">I didn't. I'm still here. </font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">On the other hand, I haven't been pebbling, which was (originally) the whole point of the blog.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">Why haven't I been pebbling? The short story is that that I have developed an allergy. To the SUN. I wish I was kidding. I am not. I have never been allergic to a single thing in my entire 39 year old life (except for whining. I'm terribly allergic to whining).</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">And so... I've been struggling with whether or not I should continue posting non-pebble related bits, since pebbling usually involves being in the sun, and I am now a vampire.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">My teenage goth-self loves the vampire thing in THEORY, but reality is a bitch. I was a teenage goth child in Ohio... Which was EASY... and I now live in sun-soaked Southern California. Kinda hard to ignore the giant glowing orb, if you know what I mean.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">The good news is that just yesterday, I discovered that my husband's over-the-counter allergy pills will block the crazy itchy, massive hive-y histamines enough to allow me to do super-exciting things like picking up Miss M from Kindergarten without jumping out of my skin. Yeah. It's been THAT bad. It's already nearly HOT here, and I've been wondering just how in the heck an already overheated woman was going to make it through the summer with a scarf around her neck...</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">So anyway. Pebbling has been somewhat out of the question since this began in October. I suspect my laundry detergent (specifically, the chemical Optical Whiteners). The only thing that has changed that might trigger such a crazy reaction is the switch from our ancient washing machine to a new High Efficiency one. I didn't change detergent BRANDS but we did switch to the HE formula of the same brand. I have since found some forums online where people are pointing to this particular brand as being supremely evil for all manner of reasons, but you know, it's the INTERNET and people say all kinds of wacky stuff. But, there is a possibility that whatever is wrong with me is being caused by a chemical photosensitivity... And the chemical doesn't bother me until it's exposed to sunlight. Then, BOOM. Scratch. Could very well be the laundry detergent.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">So, three weeks ago, I switched to a brand that claims to NOT have the optical whitener, but while I have rewashed everything in my closet (and triple rinsed it!) my bedding and my towels... I'm still itching. Sigh. </font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">It simply might take more time to purge myself of the chemicals, I might need yet a different brand or need to make my own detergent (hubby is NOT pleased with that idea-- I believe his exact words were, "Make it out of what??? Lye and Baking Soda???" to which the answer is, well... uh... yeah... sorta-- although the idea of making my own laundry detergent appeals to me, and he may very well have to take a backseat on this one if he ever wants to see me at the beach again) or, of course, whatever the problem is is not even related to laundry detergent, in which case, I have no idea which way to turn next. Well, that's not true. I need to make an appointment with an allergist. Duh.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">But that's my story. So the question remains... Do I continue this blog under the auspices of "Curious Pebble" or do I just change the name and keep the URL or what? I honestly don't know what to do.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">I haven't even had any pebbles in my etsy shop for months... I had last put a vacation hold on everything while I did a local show one weekend, last October... but once again, I didn't sell a single thing and just kinda got BLEH about the whole thing. The pebbles are now languishing in a box in the garage. No sense beating a dead horse, no matter how pretty he is. Or not? I don't know!!!!!</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">But, I've been busy with my usual crafty-self, just not posting. There were Valentines again this year of course, and those pictures on on my hard drive, just SITTING there, as are probably five thousand other things I've thought to share, but haven't. </font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">Mostly there has been music. I once promised myself I'd have an album ready by the time I was 30. I'll be 40 in July. OMG. It also may be my last year as a full-time stay at home mom, so, I've been desperately trying to make as much music as possible. But... Again... Hardly pebble-related.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">Sigh.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">Jeez. I've missed you.</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-78315972638118250872012-10-04T14:55:00.000-07:002012-10-04T14:55:42.416-07:00"Say My Name"Less Pebbling more Music, lately. It happens. A little Ambient/Chill/Trippy Love today. <br />
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Say My Name....<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F62228366&secret_url=false"></param>
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F62228366&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/juliannamcduffie/say-my-name">Say My Name</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/juliannamcduffie">Julianna McDuffie</a></span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-27206723068563224072012-09-23T17:11:00.001-07:002012-09-23T17:15:47.279-07:00South Ponto Beach, Carlsbad<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5791529024347929938'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK0XrLUM5DIxPE1Gxf8F5KiRILTDgMjlPiC6q-EL6TDxzFaqQvRDkSDOlmi_3GBDa5fy91qeEe9VOje_EHM3kgrOvIehL-7rM3OknWSgiFUE99BrGbOQZSyHxzTb83gG0ZDTXXlt399hw/s288/1.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Just a quick pebbling today...<br /><br />DID YOU FIND IT??<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/2010/12/sign-guestbook.html?m=1">Sign the guestbook</a> and let us know!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5791529069437219666'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZlknAB3ZB0zVP3TQsKmBFOm9rBym65qVah1qKAeyA7-vD34tT5vmQty60J3qYsKMcBOz1J5gzMlFUUXoc7drq4pQ3gQpikzmDzYOkYyIME-9KOY9hs6vmXHRzGUknFv1hvGeNItHzbDi/s288/3.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Placed near the cliff, on another rock, ever so happily...<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5791529107286543602'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0uE3_JP5nmUnpER4FBEEweSvJVpRgr0chbHgZ8lpeQ9fcCuQeCNk06ZKTfaBgWJOjQ-0Pdv7gtDoAOQijkKNaKYnzYNVDRUR5ALfxnOMDjKhREQiBBbtb3WHjBvRyKXVhZ3FZP6UvHQE/s288/4.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br />...Like so....<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5791529140447572978'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVkKbtVOhJD4ZEEyDD9_dxowgGEqqI-Ae8w8-UmXWZvLnQUOL937CWiYEDAC3akgyX5y69at8B7ZpfaGwVjIEp_xsQyaEz8FpRl4Aj0sy1y5bY4XlYaSubRWwW-fgN11jv77i9e6x4Cgt/s288/5.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Have a beautiful day!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5791529195278752274'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PG4Sf_DsMmPmAZ4iniHU2pqnS_pkN3Kk2F58CEq1x1GfuxKJBpV5VA37N6t5cGf1RVxpMulqqSmH62FWDOQVjxgU2_ZFLKDQ3UOBuY7W0qyX55RmTxwfxYwbzmcwHLaFzP1hG4tnqi0n/s288/6.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5791529230301418930'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNtQy_UNoVgjEcBYjmxNWqhjRjHhiRq4p7Ul3xBd-sREBzWgStFWlPBqIStQI71eSeRaQ8P_9PmyNUT8hHbJUkSzJpJhnN8C9SLRXOag1K3SaWPfd1nHr3Zj92e5g3O9jVswniEf7hHhA/s288/7.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='209' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-43979232902719822632012-09-17T10:35:00.001-07:002012-09-23T17:16:32.848-07:00Overrun by Art....<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7souGU0Jm54QE#5789200718966491026'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkh111f-pHC9Xn38OaiAAlB1i0uVQiQQo9fuIlOX1JzCANE-kAbMBLGJeT6jMa73Ut0X32xhDuYeKC1UObsxIgS33-NMnk1Py1qKjjFhr7vdu5GT8SKdv-rhfARg8pmi5BXnvLwYABnZZ/s288/1.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='209' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Three days worth of Art by my five year old.<br /><br />Help! I'm drowning in magic markers and paper!!!<br /><br />But in a good way, of course.<br /><br />Hope your week sends you skies as blue as the ones in Miss M's World.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-58773541018831884212012-08-29T11:02:00.000-07:002012-08-29T11:02:20.120-07:00#021 in Portrait and Blogged Again.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a little over a week after vacation, and I've managed to get the kids back to school and have nailed down some semblance of normalcy. Which is good. After a long and tiring summer of swim lessons, multiple trips across the continent to see Grandma/Grandpa/Grannie, daily kid wrangling and fight monitoring, I am (very nearly) sane again. Or at least as close as I can be to sane (obviously).</div>
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Which means I can get back to Pebbles and making music. Which is what keeps me sane in the first place.</div>
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And, I've been thinking, "Gee! I really need to post something lovely on the blog..." but haven't done much in the way of Pebbles since I came home, blah blah blah, when BOOM! the lovely <a href="http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Alicia over at Posie Gets Cozy</a> posts another set of lovely photographs. One of which features one of my Pebbles. </div>
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<em>Miss Alicia takes the most gorgeous still-life pictures of her world and home. If you haven't visited, I suggest you do, and hurry. Because your eyes will thank you.</em></div>
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Alicia had ordered one of the original <a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/search/label/Tsunami%20Relief" target="_blank">"Japan" Tsunami Relief Pebbles</a> that I offered last year, and it has found it's way into her pictures ever since. Every time I see that little Pebble in one of her achingly beautiful photos my heart does a little happy dance. People have occasionally commented--- "What IS that?", etc, and she very recently linked to this blog and my etsy shop so that people could see where they came from.</div>
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And just like that.... my etsy shop, which hadn't made a sale in over a month, had a bunch of new orders. </div>
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And so, today, I welcome some new friends and want publicly thank Alicia for helping new faces to find me. She's a good soul, she is. Once upon a time, <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/scott/hobo-symbols" target="_blank">hobos had a set of symbols/code</a> they would chalk or paint on a fence or building to note what sort of help another might find (or not). When I think of Alicia, "Kindhearted Woman" comes to mind. Because I'm pretty sure she is. And if this were pre-1940's America, there would be a sweet 'lil kitty drawn in chalk on her back door. Go see her. </div>
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The other thing that made me smile from ear to ear was the picture you see today. </div>
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Look familiar? </div>
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It's Pebble Number 021 from my last post -- made in for the Do Art Daily Show in February, and left very recently on the the beach in the Sunset Beach neighborhood of Treasure Island, Florida. Sterling picked it up and signed the guestbook before I even got the photos posted. </div>
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Yesterday, I received an unexpected email from Sterling with the above Pebble Portrait attached. </div>
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REALLY? How awesome is THAT??? I never imagined one of them would sit for a portrait.... </div>
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<em>Hi, </em></div>
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<em>It's us again (the people who found no. 21). We love love love your pebble and everyone who comes to visit is intrigued and 'curious' about it. So we just wanted to send you a little thank you... a pebble portrait. </em><br />
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<em>(You are free to put the picture on your blog or wherever if you so desire.)</em><br />
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<em>THANKS A MILLION (again)!</em><br />
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<em>-Sterling</em></blockquote>
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There is so much good in the world. Keep your eyes open.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-90037455018035893662012-08-14T18:54:00.001-07:002012-08-14T18:58:25.683-07:00Sunset Beach, Florida Part III<br />
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WOW! I usually get to photo-blog a pebbling before a finder signs it into the guestbook, but today, my last day on the beach, with a low tide and gentle gulf... I was in the water nearly all day, looking for the Elusive Banded Tulip Shell <i>(everyone in my family has found one but ME, and it's my absolute favorite. I still didn't find one).</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">The finder writes:</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">"My parents and I were walking along the beach (Sunset Beach) at sunset and we found number 21 while searching for scallops. What a beautiful surprise. We've had three auspicious events today ( a wedding, a grouping of live conchs, and the best - your pebble!). We might keep it, or who knows, we might deposit it somewhere on our next vacation to New Zealand. Thank you so much, it made our day."</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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And, YOU, my friend, have made MY day by signing it into the Guestbook!</div>
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The bottom photo is a picture of those crazy Florida Fighting Conchs the finder mentioned... There has been a strange outcropping of them on a very particular section of beach all week. They are wallowing in a slightly muddy area, whenever the tide is low. They flip around on the beach, burying themselves, spiral-first, into the sand. Quite a show.</div>
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Although this photo does them no justice, the shells of these conchs are LOVELY. But the animal is absolutely bizarre looking, and they have this weird appendage/arm/operculum that they wave about in the air/try to flick you with if you pick them up. They have strangely beautiful eyes on two stalks (like a snail), and it's started me to wondering just how the world looks peering out through two, independently moving eyes....</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">ENJOY YOUR PEBBLE! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-4344376221173768372012-08-11T09:01:00.003-07:002012-08-11T09:06:33.059-07:00Sunset Beach, Florida Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZMG04G_CJ0/UCZ_bQXZQoI/AAAAAAAACk0/rONizOPxtcE/s1600/IMAGE_D0BA40D1-0D63-4E33-ADD7-A96DA2702504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZMG04G_CJ0/UCZ_bQXZQoI/AAAAAAAACk0/rONizOPxtcE/s400/IMAGE_D0BA40D1-0D63-4E33-ADD7-A96DA2702504.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another Pebbling in the Sunset Beach neighborhood of Treasure Island, Florida-- just south of Caddy's on the Beach.</div>
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Did YOU find it?</div>
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<a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/2010/12/sign-guestbook.html" target="_blank">Sign the guestbook and let us know!</a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTPs1WitUfU/UCZ_cXTXbSI/AAAAAAAACk8/4HN1OxSth4A/s1600/IMAGE_A99FCF01-5F5C-414F-81A0-5457C41E84A1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTPs1WitUfU/UCZ_cXTXbSI/AAAAAAAACk8/4HN1OxSth4A/s400/IMAGE_A99FCF01-5F5C-414F-81A0-5457C41E84A1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This pebble is also from the <a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/2012/03/do-art-daily-show-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Open Arts Collective's "Do Art Daily Show"</a>. It's labeled "09" (which indicates that it was made on February 9, 2012).</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iI2MHfoOh3c/UCZ_dReVZ3I/AAAAAAAAClE/YvfewrswN3g/s1600/IMAGE_45FDE659-F5BC-4EB8-B561-E6F6CACE94FF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iI2MHfoOh3c/UCZ_dReVZ3I/AAAAAAAAClE/YvfewrswN3g/s400/IMAGE_45FDE659-F5BC-4EB8-B561-E6F6CACE94FF.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Placed in a strand of shells, next to a sea gull feather...</div>
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...with a lovely ocean view.</div>
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Have a beautiful day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-86258933656584376272012-08-10T08:46:00.000-07:002012-08-11T09:05:25.686-07:00Sunset Beach, Florida<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ivrLYXUjAxw/UCUp_YlrD4I/AAAAAAAACkI/NvBwhm4mnW0/s1600/IMAGE_5A74A6FE-6BFC-40F5-BFAE-B03D92D0C5C0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ivrLYXUjAxw/UCUp_YlrD4I/AAAAAAAACkI/NvBwhm4mnW0/s400/IMAGE_5A74A6FE-6BFC-40F5-BFAE-B03D92D0C5C0.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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The first of three "Pebblings" in Florida... One of my crochet stones from the "Do Art Daily" Show I participated in in February.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5nldx7jh2A/UCUqQW_HYVI/AAAAAAAACkc/QTLt904uRjY/s1600/IMAGE_6C8A3632-C84B-480C-B440-B410A583938B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5nldx7jh2A/UCUqQW_HYVI/AAAAAAAACkc/QTLt904uRjY/s400/IMAGE_6C8A3632-C84B-480C-B440-B410A583938B.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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Did YOU find it???</div>
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Please SIGN THE GUESTBOOK to let us know!</div>
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<i>(Guestbook link to the right... Very hard to imbed links on my iPhone!)</i></div>
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I love to hear about who finds my crocheted stones... And I leave them wherever I go. I have heard from people as far away as Italy and Ireland-- and it's amazing!</div>
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This one was left in Sunset Beach, near Treasure Island, Florida.</div>
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Hope you found it!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oljk4LwNIYM/UCUqJfjdoKI/AAAAAAAACkU/wtL4uz_02eE/s1600/IMAGE_A6823257-17C0-4BA4-A595-18421FCF093F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oljk4LwNIYM/UCUqJfjdoKI/AAAAAAAACkU/wtL4uz_02eE/s400/IMAGE_A6823257-17C0-4BA4-A595-18421FCF093F.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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It's a beautiful day for Found Art!</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-21842849911200368132012-08-04T20:16:00.001-07:002012-08-04T23:31:45.049-07:00Ocean Beach, CaWent pebbling today.... Did YOU find one?<br /><br />Sign the Guestbook, and let us know!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3611.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3611.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3612.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3612.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />A red rock with a star....<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3613.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3613.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3614.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3614.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /> A blue stone with a flower pattern...<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3615.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3615.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3616.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3616.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />...and a grey stone with a spiderweb pattern.<br /><br />Other things to see in Ocean Beach today:<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3617.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3617.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3618.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3618.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3619.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3619.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/08/04/3620.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/08/04/s_3620.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-13883298300179727132012-07-29T19:40:00.004-07:002012-07-29T20:09:48.104-07:00Confederate Cemetery, Lewisburg, West VirginiaI took these photos while on a whirlwind 6-day trip to the East a few weeks ago. I mean, here I was in the middle of the Confederate Cemetery, with it's solemn ground and mounded earth....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnsYp7d5m5BTS6sT1vqYRTm-EJ3jJdf51kZv_iM91sTHsa8K1YxcqRo-dXcomIURSxcTJh3hvF_XH2t8B88zmzXWP6LR8QONP-QI2HOaFNl5cewKTGrdRV17eN8GmCn0HkzlexgQCPMvq/s1600/IMG_3826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnsYp7d5m5BTS6sT1vqYRTm-EJ3jJdf51kZv_iM91sTHsa8K1YxcqRo-dXcomIURSxcTJh3hvF_XH2t8B88zmzXWP6LR8QONP-QI2HOaFNl5cewKTGrdRV17eN8GmCn0HkzlexgQCPMvq/s400/IMG_3826.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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...and all I could think was "<em>this FENCE..."</em> <br />
<em></em> <br />
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They don't make fences like this anymore. At least they don't make them like this in Southern California.<br />
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And, yeah, it's just Hipstamatic, but it felt like that.<br />
<br />
Just. Like. That.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-73931426317001839932012-07-25T13:34:00.002-07:002012-07-25T13:38:15.537-07:00Yarn Bombing My Neighbor Part II<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
The other evening, my kids wanted to go an visit our neighbor, Kathryn.</div>
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Specifically, my kids wanted to swing on her tire swing and pet Kathryn's dog. We had a very nice time chatting with Kathryn and other neighbors, petting Kathryn's slightly nervous pooch, swinging on the tire, etc... when Kathryn mentioned that she'd been looking for a traditional, wooden swing to add to the other side of the tree. </div>
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I had one in the garage. Still in it's box. </div>
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I was overcome by the need to own it while at IKEA a few months ago, wishing I had a tree large enough to hang it in, and figuring I'd make a frame or hang it from the porch, or SOMETHING... and for $15... I had to have it. So there it sat, languishing in the garage-- a sad, terrible existence for a swing. </div>
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Seriously. That's about the saddest thing I can think of right now... poor swing!</div>
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After some time messing with too short ropes and the subsequent finding of longer ones <em>(that I had ALSO purchased with the intention of somehow hanging a swing... GEEZ! What is WRONG with me?!?),</em> there are now TWO swings in Kathryn's yard.</div>
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Except that... except that... well... after we decided to move the tire swing on the other side of the tree (in order to give the wooden swing more clearance), when we re-hung it, the whitewalls on the tire weren't showing on the street side, and Kathryn much preferred it that way. </div>
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So, I jokingly mentioned that she really shouldn't worry about it, because I'd more than likely come over one night and paint a mural on it or something... But our other neighbor very nicely, and only half smirkingly re-hung the swing with the whitewalls in their proper location.</div>
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But still. I had a plan.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">TIRE SWING YARN BOMB</span></strong></div>
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I had wanted to do this under cover of darkness for a surprise in the morning kind of a thing... but I went over to take measurements for the tire in the dark that same night, and it was pretty clear to me that there was NO WAY I was going to be able to attach this thing to the tire without light. </div>
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So, I hung it in the day time, thinking she wasn't home. </div>
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She was. </div>
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She came outside to see us (my kids were swinging again), and was utterly delighted... She was even happier that she was there to SEE it being done. So... YAY!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimas5kbgd78FeEZ_TP-oAYIm4FqmtZOMU9Gn3x8tylIyHAtZFcazsh30VAbZr4umwT_Vbydm4oliXdqQ0krv1MSXsp4nnDC3-9JISRBmn3L-MTNkZ21uY0MpmFBc7grJqY5DOFrisxu_s3/s1600/TireSwingCollage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimas5kbgd78FeEZ_TP-oAYIm4FqmtZOMU9Gn3x8tylIyHAtZFcazsh30VAbZr4umwT_Vbydm4oliXdqQ0krv1MSXsp4nnDC3-9JISRBmn3L-MTNkZ21uY0MpmFBc7grJqY5DOFrisxu_s3/s400/TireSwingCollage.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
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I made it by making a line of granny squares a little bit shorter than the circumference of the tire. I wanted to have to stretch it tight, so that it wouldn't be loose and kids could still swing. The sides are made of simple, striped rows, decreasing stitches in each row so that the whole thing formed a donut when the ends were stitched together on site.</div>
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I was a HUGE relief when the thing actually FIT. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZPLl8RqKOK83w4kDzA0o6UlzYZdKvUE82KYyfKRK9gC0tRpoGj3KAajRshK-kcKuyaOV6sa2GAHuNVP6mghtmDqNGtDN_YBZTEGRZmKBWhvkZ79lZnzp5AozfFhcaYXXTNLGeoIjipVs/s1600/IMG_3989.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZPLl8RqKOK83w4kDzA0o6UlzYZdKvUE82KYyfKRK9gC0tRpoGj3KAajRshK-kcKuyaOV6sa2GAHuNVP6mghtmDqNGtDN_YBZTEGRZmKBWhvkZ79lZnzp5AozfFhcaYXXTNLGeoIjipVs/s400/IMG_3989.jpg" width="299" /></a> </div>
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It was NOT a huge relief to see the black widow in the interior of the tire halfway through the sewing.</div>
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She was really pretty and ultra creepy and spidery looking- with the scarlet-red hourglass shape of the Black Widow on her abdomen. Creepy, man. Oh, did I already say that?</div>
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She is now at the bottom of Kathryn's vacuum cleaner. One just can't have a tire swing full of Black Widows. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzYPK8jSXySGL0ASHpAw_MW-SNQPKryylTlPEsHAEM6CIrDGqF2UF_APMAMoJnZgHrLp5uSXOVBNrhB8jR2_uHfXjBTNKMCiVSAU6IYGOw9fjJMa-NNR4oNQQCBaPxPz2rPTqQyQS3Jte/s1600/IMG_4029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzYPK8jSXySGL0ASHpAw_MW-SNQPKryylTlPEsHAEM6CIrDGqF2UF_APMAMoJnZgHrLp5uSXOVBNrhB8jR2_uHfXjBTNKMCiVSAU6IYGOw9fjJMa-NNR4oNQQCBaPxPz2rPTqQyQS3Jte/s400/IMG_4029.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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The kids mostly took turns swinging, and there was only one episode where one screamed loudly at the other to the point that momma had to threaten them with going home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhc6swtizrYugD1h2OF5_9AhtQNKlny-9a3tgtmsv80Ciqo67HRLjzugWazJMR2SwSiANwvGaarROgryCdRRnamkH5PXPhmbCAocZ3wVCiOqNN3QwqGiglX4-8P5bPJWtMofDXbMq2beW/s1600/IMG_4008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhc6swtizrYugD1h2OF5_9AhtQNKlny-9a3tgtmsv80Ciqo67HRLjzugWazJMR2SwSiANwvGaarROgryCdRRnamkH5PXPhmbCAocZ3wVCiOqNN3QwqGiglX4-8P5bPJWtMofDXbMq2beW/s400/IMG_4008.jpg" width="299" /></a> </div>
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But that's how it goes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQnieuo6aqjf2TKjGt1rnSpUZ4eUcl4-MfhqqRE4MZXe3b602cqcrx3aXGpOXvXIlaC4c2FakWbxNQjbjtsthbOG9tczGik8KQ_JjgCe-uvs4PV3u8ByS-3JPl9LNQPmMLqCS73aWbTSj/s1600/IMG_4035.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQnieuo6aqjf2TKjGt1rnSpUZ4eUcl4-MfhqqRE4MZXe3b602cqcrx3aXGpOXvXIlaC4c2FakWbxNQjbjtsthbOG9tczGik8KQ_JjgCe-uvs4PV3u8ByS-3JPl9LNQPmMLqCS73aWbTSj/s400/IMG_4035.jpg" width="299" /></a> </div>
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And now, whenever I turn the corner into my neighborhood, there is this charming tire catching my eye.... </div>
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And Kathryn, who has been a PEACH for the past 11 years has a fun, new swing. Well, TWO, really... </div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-43694322648866345532012-07-23T20:58:00.002-07:002012-07-25T13:36:39.145-07:00Yarn Bombing my Neighbor...<br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5768580382008756082"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CqIIBTFyFXk/UA4dS0_rR3I/AAAAAAAACgE/zvMsrOEvvlo/s288/2.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br />
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Shhhh....<br />
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<center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5768580405991080562"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o2iPXVRTlvU/UA4dUOVggnI/AAAAAAAACgM/QlDWtXVz-wE/s288/6.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br />
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To be continued...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-71635651828700853362012-07-06T11:50:00.002-07:002012-07-06T14:26:58.827-07:00Nyan Cat Amigurumi PATTERN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaLwt2btn9lQRie3bHfwhPpOy-rraVn5c4kRSf9OeSIq4gr4BTpbH5ESPsjq6bJ3nWHNT3W46OIVCl4P3UH4jQrP1y_JF3tCKXm14szyX-yLZobCgFU_SDTA_SlTY0cVKfZwxmdz4JqYm/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaLwt2btn9lQRie3bHfwhPpOy-rraVn5c4kRSf9OeSIq4gr4BTpbH5ESPsjq6bJ3nWHNT3W46OIVCl4P3UH4jQrP1y_JF3tCKXm14szyX-yLZobCgFU_SDTA_SlTY0cVKfZwxmdz4JqYm/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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FINALLY! I got it done. <br />
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Now... Who will be the first to test this bad boy? I've worked it twice from my instructions, and it isn't the easiest thing ever, but if you have any Ami experience, you should be able to make your own! Enjoy!<br />
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You can download a <a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2bpPUg624SpSHdUUHBuTlhldTQ" target="_blank">PDF on Google Docs</a>...<br />
<br />
Or... <br />
<br />
Here it is:<br />
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<strong>NYAN CAT AMIGURUMI PATTERN</strong><br />
<strong>(by Julianna McDuffie)</strong><br />
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<strong>STUFF YOU NEED</strong><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Yarn in a rainbow of colors as pictured. (I used mostly Red Heart Soft and Bernat Satin)</li>
<li>Felt for the face</li>
<li>Sequins</li>
<li>Poly-fill or yarn ends for stuffing </li>
<li>Size E or F hook </li>
<li>Hot-glue gun/glue</li>
<li>Tapestry needle</li>
</ul>
<div>
<strong>STITCHES USED</strong></div>
<ul>
<li>Chain</li>
<li>HDC (Half Double Crochet)</li>
<li>SS (Slip Stitch)</li>
<li>Bobble Stitch</li>
<li>Whipstitch for joining pieces</li>
<li>DC BOBBLE STITCH: <em>YO, insert hook into next stitch, pull through 1 loop YO, Pull through 2 loops. (2 loops on hook). YO, insert hook (in same stitch), YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 1 loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). YO, insert hook (in same stitch), YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 1 loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO pull through all 4 loops.</em></li>
<li>HDC SHELL STITCH: <em>4 HDC all in one stitch.</em></li>
</ul>
<em></em><br />
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<strong><u>POP TART BODY</u></strong><br />
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CH 20 <br />
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Row 1: SC in second Chain from hook. SC across. Working on the opposite side of the foundation chain, continue to SC across in the remaining chain loops, forming an in the round pocket. Join with SS in top of the first HDC in the row. (36 stitches)<br />
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Row 2-12: CH 2 (counts as first SC), SC around. (36 stitches)<br />
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Row 13: Flattening the piece, join front and back sides together with SS for 8 or 10 stitches. Stuff lightly (it’s a Pop-Tart, not a beach ball!). Continue to SS join front and back sides across. (18 stitches).<br />
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<br /><strong><u>POP TART EDGING</u></strong><br />
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(Note: The edging shells may not work out perfectly evenly– especially the Round 2. You may need to add or subtract a shell to hit the corners properly. Not a big deal. There’s enough excess ruffle here – on purpose -- that it won’t be a problem, and no one will notice. The most important thing is to be sure to set up your corners IN THE CORNER on Round One. In Round Two, the corner should be made in Round One’s chain 2 spaces. Yeah. My math skills aren’t great.)<br />
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Round 1: <br />
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Join Beige Yarn at the top left corner of the closed pop Tart. <br />
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1st CORNER: CH 2 (counts as first SC) and SC in same stitch. CH 2, 2 SC again in same stitch. 1st Corner made. <br />
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LEFT SIDE: SC across to Corner. <br />
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CORNER: (2 SC, CH 2, 2 SC) all in corner stitch. <br />
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BOTTOM: SC across to Corner. <br />
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CORNER: (2 SC, CH2, 2 SC) all in corner stitch. <br />
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RIGHT SIDE: SC across to Corner. <br />
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CORNER: (2 SC, CH2, 2 SC) all in corner stitch. <br />
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TOP: SC across to 1st Corner made. Join with SS in first SC. (continued…..)<br />
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Round 2: (Changing to HDC here…)<br />
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Slip Stitch to 1st Corner CH 2 Space. All in the same CH 2 space: Ch2 (counts as first HDC), 3HDC, CH 2, HDC Shell.<br />
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LEFT SIDE: Skip 2, *HDC Shell, skip 2* across, ending 2 or 3 stitches away from corner CH2 space.<br />
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CORNER: In the corner CH2 space, (HDC Shell, CH 2, HDC Shell).<br />
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BOTTOM: Skip 2, *HDC Shell, skip 2* across, ending 2 or 3 stitches away from corner CH2 space.<br />
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CORNER: In the corner CH2 space, (HDC Shell, CH 2, HDC Shell).<br />
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RIGHT SIDE: Skip 2, *HDC Shell, skip 2* across, ending 2 or 3 stitches away from corner CH2 space.<br />
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CORNER: In the corner CH2 space, (HDC Shell, CH 2, HDC Shell).<br />
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TOP To End: Skip 2, *4HDC in next loop (shell), skip 2* across, ending/joining with a SS in top of first HDC. Weave in all ends.<br />
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<strong><u>THE KITTY BITS</u></strong><br />
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<strong>HEAD </strong>- worked in the round<br />
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Round 1: CH2 (counts as first SC). 7SC in second loop from hook. Join with a SS in top of first SC. (8 stitches)<br />
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Round 2: CH2 (counts as first SC). SC in same stitch. *2SC in each stitch* around. Join with SS in top of first SC. (16 stitches)<br />
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Round 3: CH2 (counts as first SC). SC in same stitch. *SC in next. 2SC in next* three times (11 stitches to this point). Form a 4 DC Bobble Stitch in next stitch to make the first cheek. (12 stitches to this point). *2SC in next. SC in next* 3 times (21 stitches to this point). 2 SC in Next. In the last stitch of the round, form a 4 DC Bobble stitch for the second cheek. Join with SS in top of first SC. (24 stitches)<br />
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Rounds 4 & 5: SC around (24 stitches). Tie off leaving a long tail to stitch to the front of the Pop Tart body. Weave in end of Round 1.<br />
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<strong>EARS</strong> (Joined and stitched directly to the last row of the head)<br />
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LEFT EAR, Row 1: Find the joining stitch of the cheek bobble in Row 3 of the head. Move down to last row of the head. Count 4 stitches toward the top of the head. Insert hook in 4th stitch and pull up a loop to join. CH2 (counts as first stitch). SC in same stitch. SC in next (3 stitches).<br />
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LEFT EAR Row 2: CH1. Turn. Skip first stitch. SC in next (this is the middle of row 1). (2-ish stitches) Tie off. Weave in ends.<br />
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RIGHT EAR, Row 1: Find the joining stitch of the opposite cheek bobble. Move down to last row of the head. Count 2 stitches toward the top of the head. Insert hook in second stitch and pull up a loop to join. CH2 (counts as first stitch). SC in same stitch. SC in next (3 stitches).</div>
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RIGHT EAR Row 2: CH1. Turn. Skip first stitch. SC in next (this is the middle of row 1). (2-ish stitches) Tie off. Weave in ends.<br />
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<strong>LEGS</strong> – worked in the round<strong> (Make 4)</strong><br />
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Round 1: CH2 (counts as first SC), SC 5 times in first loop of CH2. (6 stitches)<br />
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Rounds 2-6: CH2 (counts as first SC) SC around. (6 stitches). ALTERNATELY, you could work each leg in a spiral until you reach desired length.<br />
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Tie off leaving a bit of tail for stitching to the back of the Pop Tart body. Weave in end from Row 1.<br />
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<strong>TAIL</strong><br />
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Row 1: CH 13. SS in second stitch from hook. SS in next. SK next stitch. SS, SS. SS three times in next stitch. SS, SS. SK next stitch. SS, SS.<br />
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Row 2: CH1 (counts as SS). Turn. SS next. SK next. SS, SS. SS three times in next stitch. SS, SS. <br />
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SK next. SS, SS. Tie off leaving a bit of tail to stitch to the back of the Pop Tart body. Weave in end from Row 1.<br />
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<strong><u>THE RAINBOW </u></strong><br />
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<em>Note: The rainbow is worked as a ripple stitch (think, “ripple afghan”). If you would like to make your Nyan Cat into a long, rainbow scarf, make your initial chain as long as you would like your scarf to be, and then add a few chains for good measure. You can always undo a few loops on the end of the chain to make it “fit” the pattern. Won’t hurt anything, and it’ll be easier than counting in the long run. Plus, I’m bad a math. I may have already said that.</em></div>
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Row 1: WITH RED, Chain 25. <br />
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Row 2: Ch 2, Turn (counts as first HDC). HDC in next two chains. *2HDC in next chain. HDC in next 3 chains. Decrease in next by (HDC 2 chains together). HDC in next 3 chains.* across.<br />
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Row 3: SKIP 1st stitch, Repeat Row 2, using ORANGE.<br />
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Row 4: : SKIP 1st stitch Repeat Row 2, using YELLOW.<br />
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Row 5: : SKIP 1st stitch Repeat Row 2, using GREEN.<br />
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Row 6: : SKIP 1st stitch Repeat Row 2, using BLUE.<br />
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Row 7: : SKIP 1st stitch Repeat Row 2, using PURPLE. <br />
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Weave in all ends.<br />
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<strong><u>FINISHING</u></strong><br />
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1.) Working from the front, join Head to bottom right-hand corner of Pop Tart, using the long tail to whipstitch. Hide your stitches as much as possible, and leave the ears “free” so that they can stick out a little and move. Stuff the head with Poly-Fil when you are ¾ of the way closed. Finish whip stitching the head to the body and weave in the ends. Note: I chose to join the head all the way into the corner, even sewing directly to the Pop-Tart fringe in the corner, but it’s your call. </div>
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2.) Working from the back of the Pop Tart, join Legs, (let the bottom row of Pop Tart pink as your guide), using the long tails to whipstitch legs to body. Weave in ends. I started with one leg all the way in each of the bottom corners, and then placed leg three directly next to leg one, and leg four directly next to leg one, leaving a belly-space between each set of legs.<br />
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3.) Working from the back of the Pop Tart, join Tail to the upper right-hand corner (you are opposite the head on the from side, right?), using the right hand side of the Pop Tart Pink as a guide. Do not sew to the Pop Tart Fringe to keep the movement.<br />
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4.) Working from the back of the Pop Tart, and using pink Pop-Tart yarn, join RAINBOW vertically down the right-hand side of the Pink Pop Tart, one row over from the end/edging so as not to overlap the tail. <br />
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5.) Cut facial features from felt and hot glue. I kept with the theme and made everything but the cheeks square, like pixels. I tried square cheeks as well, but just thought circular cheeks added to the overall cuteness factor.<br />
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6.) Randomly hot-glue sequins on the pink of the Pop Tart. Fly through the sky….. <br />
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<strong><em>NyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNyaNya….</em></strong><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-42177410338968579482012-07-03T14:19:00.003-07:002012-07-03T14:27:52.739-07:00GOSH! Napoleon Dynamite Amigurumi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-hukQMPCoXdBLgrNteER3y-BWJtfTTP4bopsWpyfUTjnXEOZ3OPJ3-BMqHDcFksRzM8CLtQnEr_6Vm1n0mQfYqKyhUvjf6PvnCptpQw9Gy-IauHaGGzwiaqLKAMED2GquUV7foA6Pxtq/s1600/IMG_0789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-hukQMPCoXdBLgrNteER3y-BWJtfTTP4bopsWpyfUTjnXEOZ3OPJ3-BMqHDcFksRzM8CLtQnEr_6Vm1n0mQfYqKyhUvjf6PvnCptpQw9Gy-IauHaGGzwiaqLKAMED2GquUV7foA6Pxtq/s400/IMG_0789.JPG" vca="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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<em>Napoleon: It took me like three hours to finish the shading on your upper lip. It's probably the best drawing I've ever done. </em><br />
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<em>Napoleon: Tina, you fat lard, come get some dinner.</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7HeBoTsIGeTYm7tz3mVeKd0jdexKz64IIM_rlsaZdz2yZ-s2g11fkwyp8ObwUYDiCGODVxRSP6qpYo9wdDKpVhE069oJ6rFjYwegTR7hXc4zQeazI6vwgIP0f4lzOGe3YBoffc_ztLMj/s1600/IMG_3664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7HeBoTsIGeTYm7tz3mVeKd0jdexKz64IIM_rlsaZdz2yZ-s2g11fkwyp8ObwUYDiCGODVxRSP6qpYo9wdDKpVhE069oJ6rFjYwegTR7hXc4zQeazI6vwgIP0f4lzOGe3YBoffc_ztLMj/s400/IMG_3664.jpg" vca="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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<em>Napoleon: I caught you a delicious Bass.</em></div>
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<em>D-Qwon: Welcome to D-Qwon's Dance Moves. Are you ready to get your groove on?</em></div>
<em>Napoleon: Yessss.</em><br />
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<em>Napoleon: Who are you?</em></div>
<em>Lafawnduh: I'm Lafawnduh.</em><br />
<em>Napoleon: What are you doing here?</em><br />
<em>Lafawnduh: I'm waiting for Kip.</em><br />
<em>Napoleon: Kip?</em><br />
<em>Lafawnduh: Why are you so sweaty?</em><br />
<em>Napoleon: I've been practicing.</em><br />
<em>Lafawnduh: Practicing what?</em><br />
<em>Napoleon: Some dance moves.</em><br />
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Holy Hannah, I love that movie.<br />
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Kitchy Goodness. Another custom order to be shipped to Niagara Falls Toot-Sweet. Am gonna have to make one for myself as well, if I can bring myself to cut out all those teeny letters again. <br />
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<div>
Just for funsies, here is a list of <u>Things I Tried</u> while making the "Vote For Pedro" t-shirt:</div>
<ul>
<li>Sewing it with yarn (not good enough) </li>
<li>Nicer embroidery (yeah.... not my forte) </li>
<li>considered an iron-on (didn't have any on hand), </li>
<li>toyed with just <em>writing it</em> on white fabric to sew on (again, not good enough).... </li>
</ul>
....and then! I remembered how <a href="http://www.filthwizardry.com/2010/03/iron-on-decals-from-plastic-shopping.html" target="_blank">Lindsay over at Filth Wizardry makes these awesome iron-ons out of plastic bags</a> (she DOES! It's so cool!), and I tried that, too--- writing on a white plastic bag with red Sharpie and ironing it to a test swatch (ok... I tried it like, 5,000 times), but, alas! When ironed, the red Sharpie faded to fuchsia, which made me kinda sad. And slightly bummed. Then I tried printing out the logo on a piece of paper and sandwiching THAT in between two pieces of clear plastic. It WORKED, but was a little too thick for my liking. for THIS project, anyway. I'm totally going to try that again for something else.<br />
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<em>(Have I ever mentioned that I can be a bit of a perfectionist? No? Mmmm. It's true. To the point of making myself insane, really... it's a tossup as to whether it's a good quality or not.)</em><br />
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So the only thing I had on-hand (that I could think of) as some Heat-N-Bond iron-on fusible stuff. The kind that you aren't supposed to sew. The kind that is really tough once ironed. I also had a bit of red satin left over from Miss M's Snow White costume a few years back.<br />
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And here's the really fun part..... did you know you can PRINT on Heat-N-Bond???</div>
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You <u>Totally</u> Can. <br />
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I found the "Vote for Pedro" logo on the web, reversed the lettering as I would to print a regular t-shirt iron-on, sized it to fit my Napoleon t-shirt, cut out a 4"x6" swatch of Heat-N-Bond and ran that baby through my ink jet printer. Then I fused the Heat -N-Bond to my red satin and cut out a much of it as I could. With tiny fabric scissors. For a loooooong time. Couldn't get the interior of the "P"s, though. Too tiny! It isn't perfect, but it's the best I can do.</div>
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Although, I think if I make one of these for myself, I will probably go the easier route and just do it with a regular iron-on, even if it won't look as nice. I'm just a big cheapskate, and geez that took a long time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLHFkjaDWllZs_m-UnoodTD0RwrBZQDIhyphenhyphenzZPLk9BjFslYNHG1pgO6TAZ8o5ZotsKfO317VLRtDfI4Ty0uWV1l-2ploXsObrsoTLPUzZ7Licz602UT1WuJNyvlURwkdDf5E3eu2OELrKV/s1600/IMG_3671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLHFkjaDWllZs_m-UnoodTD0RwrBZQDIhyphenhyphenzZPLk9BjFslYNHG1pgO6TAZ8o5ZotsKfO317VLRtDfI4Ty0uWV1l-2ploXsObrsoTLPUzZ7Licz602UT1WuJNyvlURwkdDf5E3eu2OELrKV/s400/IMG_3671.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xwwh5-RyQsyofFtGo54VdawR7JxBGY4GOeE-DVZ62JUSZZlq7HwMAv4Rt5Dm4Xg1OGgGv1e7gQ_t7r3faHuzMiO-pftJWIYdW3htr8j0q4YMS-YFYsXMyXT3LSMzubwnk2os2J9Xk6JD/s1600/IMG_3669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xwwh5-RyQsyofFtGo54VdawR7JxBGY4GOeE-DVZ62JUSZZlq7HwMAv4Rt5Dm4Xg1OGgGv1e7gQ_t7r3faHuzMiO-pftJWIYdW3htr8j0q4YMS-YFYsXMyXT3LSMzubwnk2os2J9Xk6JD/s400/IMG_3669.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>GIMME YOUR TOTS!</em></span></td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-32992066989887136242012-06-27T15:11:00.010-07:002012-06-27T16:37:07.666-07:00F@&$ it, Dude. Let's go Bowling. An Amigurumi Lebowski. The Dude.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMkIGDtlfS3arES-LbY6sSwjBcbXiKwsiSOMBAa0qzgDvThDtMVfhKhqq9pIIr_VOTMEOHwWQqlu7K8XiOt7RsfoA4Y2FedKLu7tHf57yxDJOV9JSzuz4Q7VEcA8WVFSLL8zt6gJxRuuI/s1600/IMG_3629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMkIGDtlfS3arES-LbY6sSwjBcbXiKwsiSOMBAa0qzgDvThDtMVfhKhqq9pIIr_VOTMEOHwWQqlu7K8XiOt7RsfoA4Y2FedKLu7tHf57yxDJOV9JSzuz4Q7VEcA8WVFSLL8zt6gJxRuuI/s400/IMG_3629.jpg" vca="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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<em>As seen </em><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/julibee/the-dude-the-big-lebowski-yeahhhhhh"><em>on Ravelry</em></a>...<em><br /></em><br />
Yesterday, <a href="http://www.mommyslilmonkey.com/" target="_blank">Miss Julia over at Mommy's Little Monkey</a> asked if I might be able to make "that character from Lebowski"?<br />
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To which I replied, "WHICH character? They are ALL crazy characters!"<br />
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Turns out, she's never seen 'The Big Lebowski', and while admittedly feels the necessary shame about it, I'm shaming her in public to MAKE her watch.<br />
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Go do it, 'k, Julia???<br />
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Best.Movie.Ever.<br />
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Amirightoramiright?<br />
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So. Indeed. The Dude Abides. In crochet. In Amigurumi, even.<br />
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It was, of course, our hero, The Dude she was looking for. Here he is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDW0O0NnnKMX_vLVSKckXjn_gf1lMQekeQcaxGTjfaKzXcjZBbxcKqlsfmqH5vVbK67FFpTa3SfG2o7hFS_-H6a3jUFHZOo2_S8_AaDJ5N5CT7wUVo6RNAw-VgkOazpA4opPcQKVy7quu/s1600/IMG_3637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDW0O0NnnKMX_vLVSKckXjn_gf1lMQekeQcaxGTjfaKzXcjZBbxcKqlsfmqH5vVbK67FFpTa3SfG2o7hFS_-H6a3jUFHZOo2_S8_AaDJ5N5CT7wUVo6RNAw-VgkOazpA4opPcQKVy7quu/s400/IMG_3637.jpg" vca="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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I love how his hair turned out. Pretty Dude-like, if I do say so, myself, and shouldn't.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUHvFjUeE-gdQjEanegMTgO7w_L9DXoC5vC-WzjwpZicAydxUTyig3hwr1s5fXs8A0UB_JwgvPNwSQTMSCbLT7KCcg6Llk2G31GZbKDzyI9zwQP8jbXrGpaxWt6skE0XsYVQe_UFN_bRu/s1600/IMG_3634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUHvFjUeE-gdQjEanegMTgO7w_L9DXoC5vC-WzjwpZicAydxUTyig3hwr1s5fXs8A0UB_JwgvPNwSQTMSCbLT7KCcg6Llk2G31GZbKDzyI9zwQP8jbXrGpaxWt6skE0XsYVQe_UFN_bRu/s400/IMG_3634.jpg" vca="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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Bathrobe complete with pockets for your checkbook. <br />
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You know... Because you never know when you'll need to write at check to Ralph's for $2.49 for a carton of half & half for your next White Russian.<br />
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Also, the comfort sandals. Those are important. Like... for walking on rugs that really tie the room together.<br />
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Watch out, Dude, I think Jackie Treehorn just slipped you a Mickey.<br />
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Yeah. He TOTALLY did. <br />
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Some days you eat the bahr, some days the bahr eats you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUk3i8TmcAhHlAPu5G5DxtPfa8im1ULNKYVLLY0lOYm9w6QX-MP8MhA8uUkpqazCKRgX_t4LqVT8vUqUqzM4OTlkKg6wBBngBL6O7rPD19785bbV_S3ag3t4lNRGYJ-MKnocwFJe9jbH_/s1600/IMG_3631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUk3i8TmcAhHlAPu5G5DxtPfa8im1ULNKYVLLY0lOYm9w6QX-MP8MhA8uUkpqazCKRgX_t4LqVT8vUqUqzM4OTlkKg6wBBngBL6O7rPD19785bbV_S3ag3t4lNRGYJ-MKnocwFJe9jbH_/s400/IMG_3631.jpg" vca="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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He's a good man. And thorough.<br />
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Bottoms up, Dude.<br />
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<em>No, there's no pattern. Sigh. </em><br />
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<em>I just make this stuff up as I go along.... if you can make your own amigurumis, you can make Lebowski. It's your basic head/body (although, I do use doubled-over pipe cleaners for arm and leg fillers, so that I can pose 'em), a separate bathrobe and sandals, some hair... felt bits... it's all in how you put it together, really... and how many White Russians you've had...</em><br />
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<em>Kidding. I'm not sure I could actually make this while tossing back a few White Russians. It would probably look more like Walter Sobchak if I did.</em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-2074117660295405742012-06-23T11:23:00.001-07:002012-06-23T11:29:26.413-07:00Tunisian Crochet (or 'Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks')<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299667899822578'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Jmxwuefz-Ls/T-YJi2KksfI/AAAAAAAACbU/zsU08p9ttH0/s288/2.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I'm not the sort of girl who can just go on doing the same old same old thing over and over and over again. No. I'm not.<br /><br />I ran into a Tunisian Crochet pin on Pinterest the other day that intrigued me-- I've seen this sort of stitching before, but didn't know how it was done. Was it Knit? Was it Crochet?<br /><br />Turns out, it's a little bit of both.<br /><br />It's crochet in the sense that you use a hook, you pull up loops.... And it's knit because you leave pulled up loops on the hook, much as you work with yarn on a needle.<br /><br />Each row is made up of two "passes"-- on the first pass, you pull up loops across, leaving them on the hook. The second pass involves yarning over and pulling through loops and dropping each stitch off the hook as you go. At the end of the row (the end of the second pass), all loops but one are off the hook.<br /><br />I learned everything I needed to know over at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stitchdiva.com/tutorials/tunisian-crochet">StitchDiva</a>. Their tutorials are perfect, and the 3-color Tunisian method has crazy potential. In fact, when my mother called me and requested some new cotton dishcloths (she loves the nubby crochet goodness), I knew this was the way to go.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299692122328994'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GTsJ8egm4ew/T-YJkQZqz6I/AAAAAAAACbc/SNVWAF1bqrc/s288/5.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />This is the simplest Tunisian stitch (Tunisian is also called "Afghan Stitch", if it looks familiar to you). The vertical bars you see are the loops that you pull through on the first pass. It's very easy to see where you are inserting your hook, and the 3-color method is even easier, as each step has a single color thread to work with. So--- on one pass, you are working only with color A, on the second pass, you are yarning over with color B. Beginning row 2, you introduce color C, and just leave all the colors waiting for you at the end of the row. No joining at the end of each row... the colors are right where you left them. <br /><br />It's like magic, I tell you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299716458910034'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2Cl8xjrdmCI/T-YJlrD9kVI/AAAAAAAACbk/wZ9lHiYbTLM/s288/6.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />This is the front of a 3-color piece that I made this morning. I like to use two solid colored yarns (here shown in lilac and brown) and one variegated yarn (here, a green/white mix).<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299738808700466'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HF8y8_4EE2U/T-YJm-UkTjI/AAAAAAAACbs/8EAuuzZxcEA/s288/7.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />And the BACK is what makes it perfect for my mother's nubby dishcloth needs. Very nubby. Almost scrubby, even. Looks quite similar to the reverse side of a knit piece, actually.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299759214009746'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mcRzCNV-vBk/T-YJoKVknZI/AAAAAAAACb0/1PndZLZYrZs/s288/8.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />And speaking of knit.... This cloth was made using a stitch that mimics a traditional knit stitch so closely, I'm not sure I'd be able to tell the difference. But I didn't use knitting needles. I used a crochet hook. <br /><br />There ARE special hooks for Tunisian crochet.... They are much longer than a traditional crochet hook, and have a stopper at the end, much like a knitting needle.... But I didn't use them for these samples. I found that it was easy enough to keep up to 30 stitches on my traditional crochet hook without even trying. Won't need to special order an Afghan hook, or even head out to my local yarn store until I decide to make something larger. Although, knowing me, it won't be too long until I do just that.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299779593038338'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ocF35SRQ_kg/T-YJpWQT6gI/AAAAAAAACb8/_MYKkwzzCgU/s288/9.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Front and back of the Simple Tunisian Stitch. It's worth noting that you want to use LARGE hooks with Tunisian crochet, otherwise, it's just too tight. It seems too loose as you are working the first pass, but with the second, you are adding two more strands,so it works out. For these samples, the recommended hook size for the cotton yarn was a US size H/8 (5mm). I ended us using a US J/10 (6.00.mm) for the Tunisian stitches, and switched to the H for the traditional crochet borders.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5757299801133418386'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qeZ4mbqW7kk/T-YJqmf8B5I/AAAAAAAACcE/fZUBMlesaOk/s288/10.jpg' border='0' width='299' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Now. If I can just convince someone to weave in all those ends for me, I'll be set.<br /><br /><br />What have YOU learned or taught yourself lately? Hmmm?<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-72964678421224515702012-06-18T19:24:00.001-07:002012-06-18T19:31:35.408-07:00Must be Summertime...<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5755568277312598594'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hNxP2PXtqT8/T9_i2pm5ckI/AAAAAAAACaw/5z86VtwmV6g/s288/2.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I've been hit with a summer cold. Not bad enough to knock me down, but bad enough to make me lazy and not go to the pool with my family today. Instead, there was some much needed grocery shopping.<br /><br />We've been watching a lot of 'Chopped' lately on the Food Network <i>(chefs given a surprise basket of food from which to prepare an appetizer, an entree and a desert, and after each round, one of them is "chopped" from the competition until only one champion is left standing)</i> and I've come to the conclusion that one shouldn't be in the throes of making dinner while that show is on.<br /><br />Strange things come out of your oven.<br /><br />Earlier this week there was a sort of chicken and vegetable pie thingamabob, that looked ridiculous, but tasted pretty damn good. Even my five year old like it.<br /><br />Tonight, following the trip to Sprouts, things were going swimmingly until the giant Bing Cherry turnover thing I envisioned started leaking through the crust so badly that I had to act quickly before there was a serious cherry juice disaster.<br /><br />So... in between the sprinkling cinnamon on the acorn squash and the snapping of the green beans, I dumped the whole, giant cherry turnover into my small jelly-rollish pan to save my oven from death by cherries.<br /><br />Most of the crust ended up on one side, which wasn't exactly a good thing, so I chopped up the half-baked crust bits with my spatula, stirred it all together and crossed my fingers.<br /><br />It totally worked.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5755568310431811586'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4gNb5WKVYUo/T9_i4k_IiAI/AAAAAAAACa4/9lRuOxFezrw/s288/5.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Inside Out Cherry Pie is a new family favorite. <br /><br />It may never happen again, but if I'm ever on "Chopped" and my giant rose water and prosciutto pie with candied Special K cereal sprinkles starts overflowing.... I'll know just what to do.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5755568329241058226'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M8U_ITKJi90/T9_i5rDm27I/AAAAAAAACbA/wyzfLFC4A-U/s288/6.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5755568344651649618'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_DND7oeavSY/T9_i6kdx0lI/AAAAAAAACbI/C9sm0egboWk/s288/7.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The rest of dinner was this: Grilled Tilapia with Lemon, Parsley and Cilantro, Fresh green beans with garlic and a hint of olive oil and acorn squash with cinnamon and just a little brown sugar.<br /><br />I heart summer.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-56071893808330028892012-06-03T21:08:00.001-07:002012-06-18T19:31:50.113-07:00ArtWalk with the San Marcos Arts Council<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5750028787750551618'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZTnve2JqOmM/T8w0t64kQEI/AAAAAAAACaQ/5_eLR_wR6H8/s288/2.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='299' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Met so many nice people today at the ArtWalk today! I so enjoyed myself. If you and I met at the ArtWalk, Welcome! You can find information directly related to the Pebbles <a target="_blank" href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/search/label/Curious%20Pebbles">HERE</a>.<br /><br />My friend, Jane (who not only write the <a target="_blank" href="http://sanmarcosarts.blogspot.com/2012/05/around-this-time-last-year-julianna.html">lovely piece the project</a>, but also is a member of the <a target="_blank" href="http://sanmarcosarts.blogspot.com/">San Marcos Arts Council</a>), made me this lovely sign for my table. It was especially cheery and made me feel very welcomed. You are a peach, Miss Jane.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5750028805425549938'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nLDJIdVTJUU/T8w0u8unUnI/AAAAAAAACaY/tgErzA-acRw/s288/5.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='299' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I just took one, quick photo of my table-- happily enough, I was too busy talking to people to do a better job of it.<br /><br />The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/316826478391926/">ArtWalk</a> continues at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.oldcalrestaurantrow.com">Old California Restaurant Row</a> in San Marcos on the first Sunday of each month, through November. I plan to attend as many as possible between now and November.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/109880063860484603729/ValentineSDay#5750028820612819554'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pit94X--WrI/T8w0v1TiqmI/AAAAAAAACag/PCZkAl-3bUY/s288/6.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='299' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />But it was a lovely day, all in all. We were even treated to a yoga-style Flash Mob courtesy of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.yogamunkey.com">Yoga Munkey</a> in Vista. <br /><br />I'll have to go check out that studio....<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-22301992847229522532012-06-01T10:32:00.001-07:002012-06-01T10:32:34.907-07:0020 Minute Dinner - Parmesan Crusted Chicken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Busy little Bees over here. We've been doing things like touring the Middle School (GAH!), having year-end potlucks at pre-school (with pony rides!), working on <a href="http://soundcloud.com/juliannamcduffie/wide-awake-and-dreaming-karyn">new music</a>, getting ready for an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=413670185331390&set=a.184834084881669.42684.109399825758429&type=1&theater">ArtWalk this Sunday</a>, setting up a Not-So"Easy Set" pool in the backyard, etc, etc, etc...<br />
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But we still have to eat.<br />
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And so, I present to you, my go-to, favorite Quick Dinner, and my kid's overall favorite meal, hands-down.<br />
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It's something my mother started, and I tweaked (I added the Basil and the butter), and it never fails. SO EASY. Promise.<br />
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<em>I'm going to apologize in advance for the fuzzy pictures. It is apparently difficult to take pictures with an iPhone while your hands are covered in chicken goo and olive oil. and you are trying to hurryhurryhurry to feed hungry kids. Lesson learned.</em><br />
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<h3>
Julianna's Parmesan/Pecorino Crusted Chicken</h3>
Chicken breasts or Chicken Tenders<br />
Freshly Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Cheese (I prefer Pecorino)*<br />
Basil<br />
Butter<br />
Olive Oil<br />
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Grate the Cheese onto a large plate, Like SO. I've generally use almost a whole cup of grated cheese for two, large chicken breasts. <em> </em>Now is not the time to skimp. <em>If you have a rotary grater like mine, it's just one lump of cheese cut to fit into the well/holding tank/cheese receptacle of the grater.</em> <br />
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Sprinkle on the Basil and mix it into the cheese your hands. Set plate aside. <br />
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Add 2 Tbls EACH of butter and Olive Oil to a heavy pan on the stove. Turn the heat to HIGH. You want a HOT pan for this to work.<br />
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Cut larger chicken pieces in half -- they will cook more evenly and also more easily fit in the pan.<br />
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Pound out the Chicken inside some freezer paper (easy clean-up). Take it easy, though. Pounded chicken shreds are harder to cook. I usually just pound them until they are about and even 1/4" thick.<br />
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Dredge/Pat the chicken pieces in the cheese mixture. I don't dip the chicken in anything. The cheese will stick.<br />
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Is your pan HOT? Good. <br />
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Arrange the chicken pieces in the pan to fit. Cook about 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cheesy-crusty in the HOT pan. <em>(I keep saying "HOT" because at lower temps, the cheese just melts and drips off the chicken. That's not the point AT ALL...)</em><br />
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Serve with pasta, throw together a Salad, cut up some fruit, and this, my friends, is DINNER. <br />
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Of course, if your kids are like mine, they will not eat salad, but they WILL eat cut up veggies. This is Evan's plate.<br />
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<em>*This will NOT work with the stuff in a Green Can! Don't even THINK about it! </em><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-32558876557850959692012-05-08T19:03:00.000-07:002012-05-08T19:07:02.971-07:00Pssst!Music Page updated, yo!<br /><br />Seriously... There are new links and videos and (gasp!) even some actual information and stuff. <br /><br />I also kinda/sorta explain the Swedish connection. OK. Not really. It's a long story. And sort of weird. And far-fetched. But there ARE links to the Swedish band I've been working with. And some more stuff, too.<br /><br />OH! And a little section about my work with the UK musician USB-- a man who actually has SEVERAL albums available. Not to mention makes appearances on a plethora of IDM/electronica compilations. And manages to be a totally nice guy. True story. He is seriously good at what he does. And did I mention that I did some songs with him? I did? 'k.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/p/oh-i-also-make-music.html">Grab your earbuds and get to it. </a><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-49639710012031403032012-05-07T15:15:00.001-07:002012-05-07T15:15:49.089-07:00Featured Artist at the San Marcos Arts Council<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbZ8bYRWaKad_31Yfyk_XoHMpWVjyMgwcZoDHlGVDW1BPImISBaL-_htUPZJk6vYtBt4AWYdI4pdoalJUFh9CoMxBDJdhr4dXKAujALYM7PFxeYKxB8QV09Rq1n2PaIapweiRDOLxtNAa/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbZ8bYRWaKad_31Yfyk_XoHMpWVjyMgwcZoDHlGVDW1BPImISBaL-_htUPZJk6vYtBt4AWYdI4pdoalJUFh9CoMxBDJdhr4dXKAujALYM7PFxeYKxB8QV09Rq1n2PaIapweiRDOLxtNAa/s400/IMG_0159.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious Pebbles <a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/search/label/On%20the%20Beach">on the Beach</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A very nice surprise today, when a friend alerted me that I am this month's <a href="http://sanmarcosarts.blogspot.com/2012/05/around-this-time-last-year-julianna.html">Featured Artist at the San Marcos Arts Council!</a> <br />
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There's a lovely article, and everything.<br />
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If you've landed on my blog from the Art Council Blog, you might note that there is a lot more than just Curious Pebbles and crocheted rocks here - Please click<a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/search/label/Curious%20Pebbles"> HERE</a> to view the project or, choose "Curious Pebbles" from the link cloud at the right! <br />
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Thanks for stopping by, and welcome! <br />
<br />
/Julianna<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfuup5MyizHNcp9BO0ye6kp8v27ZKB7XYUitV82sHrdblg-ZrSfrsEVOR4YW3BRf727duDXtKWAMQ4sfZkiazy4jYhM5zU1cWeWldeWt1IMg6uEA0b7P6z4koSB6kHfiSksaMLS1cE66d/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfuup5MyizHNcp9BO0ye6kp8v27ZKB7XYUitV82sHrdblg-ZrSfrsEVOR4YW3BRf727duDXtKWAMQ4sfZkiazy4jYhM5zU1cWeWldeWt1IMg6uEA0b7P6z4koSB6kHfiSksaMLS1cE66d/s400/IMG_2937.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious Pebbles at the <a href="http://www.curiouspebble.com/2012/03/do-art-daily-show-part-ii.html">Do Art Daily Show</a>,<br />
March 24, 2012 at Space4Art in Barrio Logan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905225153948509587.post-37478839780996148262012-05-03T12:16:00.001-07:002012-05-03T12:19:39.707-07:00LOVEonBob!I have a friend from college who has devoted her life to helping others. She and her family of five spend their days traveling and helping others based out of the family's "LOVEcan"-- A semi-trailer that they have turned into a home and a traveling ministry for good. She and I may differ on religious views, but my heart of hearts mirrors hers.<br /><br />Even while following a different path, we both end up at the same place. <br /><br />Her latest blog post details how she met Bob- an elderly gentleman, who needs some help reclaiming his home from the elements of time and economy. My friend has partnered with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.leebuilderscare.com/index.php">LeeBuildersCare</a> so that Bob can continue to live in his home, make his daily visits to his wife in a nursing home and generally lend a hand.<br /><br />Don't let Bob be forgotten.<br /><br />Read the LOVEcan <a target="_blank" href="http://thelovecanproject.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/what-about-bob/"> "What About Bob?"</a> story.<br /><br />Donate <a target="_blank" href="http://www.leebuilderscare.com/make_donation.php">HERE</a>.<br /><i>(please write "LOVEonBob" on your PayPal donation so that it can be applied directly to his building fund)</i><br /><br />Show Bob some LOVE!<br /><br />/Julianna<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15563471576097420401noreply@blogger.com2