I was just reading a friend's journal talking about trying to prepare healthy meals and I remembered these trays I got and (although I know it's a little bit of a weird entry...) I had to repost about them here because they're probably the best and most helpful kitchen health tool I've ever obtained.



Be underwhelmed!


( Okay, but stick with me here... )

Well! I don't think I've ever made bread before. Recently I've wanted to, but my hands are too sore for all that kneading. Lo, I come across a recipe for no-knead bread that you store in the fridge and just pull off a hunk to rest, then bake, when you want it.

So... I gave it a try.




Could have been worse!

( Steps and recipe )

This is going to sound pretty silly because I'm 26 and you'd think that after living on my own or functioning as a homemaker for 8 years, I would have learned this already: One secret to organizing is not to create a system and start trying to use it, but to observe the way you function and creating a system to fit that!

OHMYGOD. *slaps forehead*

( My new tricks )

I'm trying to make good on my decision to look at all my recycling and packaging with new eyes and have been spending a lot of time scanning blogs for inspiration. The goal is to doll up plain containers I already have or re-use containers that might have ended up in the trash or recycling.

There were a couple quick projects I did to try to get into it:

( A few pics )

After I tried those couple of containers, I wanted to use up a milk carton I had. I was thinking that if I cut off the top and weighted it with some sand in a sewn baggy, it wouldn't be so flimsy and could be covered and make a decent tool cup, but I found a project that is WAY better!

( Cool quick project! )

President Obama announced a feature on the White House website that allows citizens to input their questions on the economy, and related to the economy, and allows everyone to vote on which questions matter to them. The top questions will be answered in future online videos.

I just signed up and it looks like there's still a little time left to vote on questions... so if you haven't yet signed up, give it a try. <3





I haven't really caught up with everything on LJ yet, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass this along. <3 Take care!

But I was just watching some fun videos on YouTube. This one is called "Handmade", and while the title isn't exactly forthcoming with tons of details, it was a really inspiring expose on crafting in Japan. Not sure how old it is, I know that the sweets things have been around for a good while, but there were so many bright colors and unexpected things (like the felt peace patterns one girl made) that I felt really inspired by it. It was so different than the most popular Japanese craft projects you see and it made me regret that I walked through the felt section at the store today without getting any, although I'd contemplated it and then thought 'but what would I do with it?' and walked on.

Like I said in the last video, I'm trying to see plain things as more decorative or to make simple things more personal. I'm also trying to reinvent my art studio so it feels as pretty and colorful and invigorating to create in as possible. No more clear and plain plastic tubs on wire frame shelves for me... I need LIFE in there!

I think that's something that effected me most at working at Sanrio... we use things every day, so why not let them be cute or beautiful? It's what I'd always hoped to do artistically by making things like mirrors and boxes and candles for the home instead of just personal jewelry and I feel like it's my ultimate goal to arrive at in the end. Seeing people make things for themselves to express themselves really makes me want to get up and do it too. You'd think that with as many projects as I've done that I'd never have trouble picking up and trying something new, but sometimes I get the same trouble of forgetting all the creative things I'm capable of doing and really just having fun with it. I'm kind of shocked by how many things I use in my daily life that are painfully dull and utilitarian... I need to flex my 'make common stuff cute!' muscle, starting at home with my own environment, I think.

Japan seems to have so many craft and DIY books that have cute and elegant things. I feel like American DIY is still very much retro/punky/college-girl-with-rectangle-glasses-and-knit-nerdcore-scarf looking... I appreciate all kinds of crafting and DIY art, but I really love beautiful colors and sweet or elegant finished products. I think I'd be in trouble if I got in the crafting section at a Japanese bookstore... I've been before, but only at a time I wasn't as interested in craft and artwork. I didn't understand how popular it was those years ago to really appreciate all the titles they had... but anyway, thanks to fun videos on YouTube, I can get inspiration on new projects without having to go book browsing. :3 I seriously want to pick up at least half a dozen 'how-to' project books every time I'm at the craft store, and this being Hawaii, there are commonly tons of Japanese titles you don't typically find other places I've been without making it to specialty shops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PNTTvPoz_0

Check it out if you want to feel artsy!

I haven't yet caught up on reading my FList yet, but I wanted to make a quick post about a great site to visit. It's called::

http://www.helpchildsoldiers.com/

and is an informational, petition, and donation site for War Child Canada, a registered charity and raises awareness and advocacy for child rights as well as humanitarian aid for children in war-effected areas.

Although it's not an unknown fact that countless children are being used to fight wars and being terribly abused in the process, it's not something that people often think or talk about. While homelessness, poverty, suffering, slavery, abuse, starvation, and violence are easy to be out of sight and out of mind, forgetting to think about it will never make it go away. Whether help is needed down the street or across the world, we need to remind ourselves to be mindful and ask "how can I help?"

It's always a good time to do something charitable, but particularly in the "Season of Giving" it seems especially appropriate to do good for our world any way you can. We may not be superheroes who can heal the world problems with a snap, but there are always ways we can help. Every action, letter, and donation adds up to something big.

I know we're all believers in the idea that it's the generosity and caring for loved ones and our fellow humans are what really make up the goodness of the season, rather than the actual gifts we charge and wrap in our bright paper. In that light, I can never think of a better way to be in the proper spirit than in donating time, goods, or monetarily to causes because those are the gifts that really mean the world.



If you haven't chosen a charitable cause yet this year, why not consider the one above, or choosing an organization to support this season? It would be maybe the most generous gift you could give anyone to create a holiday tradition of making a gift of donation, by volunteering your time for service, or to write letters or e-mails to your friends, news media, and leaders to spread the word and encourage they address humanitarian or charitable issues that need more attention.

There are endless charities and causes out there. Do you have any charities you regularly support or issues that you regularly fight for? Share your favorite charity--!

When I was a little girl, one of my top favorite books was Island of the Blue Dolphins about a woman who was left on San Nicolas when the rest of her nearly decimated tribe was boated off to a mainland missionary. Although the book says that she jumped off the ship to save her brother who was left behind and some tellings of the stories say that she jumped off to find her baby, it was supposedly much more likely that bad weather caused the ship to hurry off while she was away in the mountains without an accurate head count.

After reading the book, I wanted to know everything about her, but without the internet in those days, the most you could find was, well... not much. The fictional book was about the only thing at the library.

For whatever reason, it popped into my head and I started searching the internet and was lucky to find a wax cylinder recording of her "Toki Toki" song. It is being sung by Fernando Librado in 1913, who heard it from Malquiares, who had originally heard it from the Lone Woman.

The translation was done by a Chumash, Aravio Talawiyashwit, to read:

"I live contented because I can see the day when I want to get out of this island".

The website I found the song on says "the exact meaning is unclear, it is believed that the Lone Woman sang this song to express mixed feelings: of sadness at leaving the familiar and of joy at having human company after a lapse of 18 years."



Hear the recording:: http://www.sbnature.org/research/anthro/chumash/sounds/toki2.wav


It's interesting that the only real physical record of her wasn't even of her voice, just what she said. Because her baskets and items were lost in a fire at the holding museum and her cormorant feather dress was lost on its way to the Vatican, this retelling of a retelling of her song seems to be all there really is. Crazy. I thought about how many artifacts still exist and almost feel indignant that none of hers do. It really made me think about how many great pieces of history really -have- been lost and how relatively few still exist. Those that do we really take for granted that they're still around, don't we?

Well, it's been some time since my last video. I wasn't sure I'd make this footage into a video because I didn't feel like it was that helpful, but with all the film of kitty on it, I thought it would be a good memory.

I have been really getting up and moving again and doing more art and being more active in the day, so hopefully while doing that, I'll have more things I want to make videos about and will make some more uploads. Reading all of the nice comments from people really inspired me to get back to it.





( I also made some recycled cloths n...n )

This isn't a super important post and I haven't really checked up on my FList for a few days, so please don't kill me. :D

I was just leaving a quick note for my friends who offered to help me hunt down my special tiny leaves that I can't seem to find anywhere anymore. I've talked to one of my suppliers about a special order, so pending approval of the comparison photos to make sure the product is close enough to match my old one, I'll have my leaves and no longer be looking.

That's the plus side. The negative side is that because of the minimum order process, I will soon become smothered in 3600 (!!!) miniature leaves.

.... So... if anyone ever needs any thumbnail sized green fabric leaves, YOU WILL KNOW WHO TO COME TO. XD

Also on the plus side is that I'll be able to get back to work. <3



Thank you so much to all of you who offered support and volunteered to check your local stores for my leaves. It was much appreciated. <333

You may, or may not, be aware of the recent scare and recall in China of tainted milk products and the subsequent recall of Chinese milk exports in other countries. One reason you may not be aware is that the products have not been pulled in a widespread here in the US, despite China, Australia, the Philippines, and more pulling and banning the tainted products.

The problem stems from when companies, looking to save money, add melamine, and its connected toxins, to watered down milk to fool tests into believing it's a rich, high protein milk sample. Young, and yet unborn, children are at particular risk, which is what makes Halloween time something we must all be particularly careful about.

Tainted milk products have caused serious illness in more than 54,000 children, and even deaths, who were unknowingly being fed infant formula and food products mixed with the tainted milk.


It is important to note that it is NOT just Chinese brand foods and snacks that can be tainted, but any that use milk powders and ingredients that originate from these guilty Chinese factories and can appear in any country. Quite a few factories in China exported milk powder and products which would have been purchased by large companies in use in common grocery store items and treats. Not just items like milk powder, but casein, and other milk items in food could be at risk. The problem is that the FDA is reportedly not releasing information or actual test results, so you don't know if food or Halloween chocolates brands you may have purchased or tainted or not, or which lot numbers might be at risk if they were produced with Chinese milk powders. Even big companies like Hershey, Cadbury, and Kraft own factories in China to assist them in making their products.




While the tainted milk scandal was covered up in China for weeks to keep a good face during the Olympics, it has been suggested that the US FDA is covering up the tainted foods here to keep focus on the elections and to keep from possibly further damaging our wavering stock strength by creating distrust of some of our most popular and relied on food brands.

Please question this, demand answers, and pass this information on. I plan on including informational slips for parents to encourage them to check up on their children's Halloween bags just to be safe. Anyone who can do the same might want to consider it. I just bought a few items today that have milk powder in them, and I will be returning them. I need healthy kidneys much more than I need granola bars. Nobody wants to play Russian Roulette with the health of their family, friends, and especially the innocent children that come knocking for Halloween, so let's do what we can to demand answers to what is safe and what is not!

( Video and news links under the cut. )

My very first autumn themed wrap. :D








( Other pictures and other projects )

It's pretty much been months since I've made art worth mentioning, and on the one hand, my fingers are feeling essentially pain free after this lengthy break, but on the other hand my moping at being unable to do the art I want to has broken me down and slowly whittled me away to a bored, unmotivated person who doesn't have the energy to bother getting into anything. Now that I can think about picking up art again, I've found I don't have much motivation. Maybe some of that is the blase of being in my first trimester, but I think most of it is just being so in the habit of being in an directionless funk.

I was pinning up my most current wraps and other items onto my studio display board tonight and it just felt so good holding and looking at my work again. I found myself stopping and looking at pieces and saying to myself 'wow, did I really make that?' Not meaning to flatter myself at all, but I really love what I make. It's kind of silly how much enjoyment and pride I find in twisting up utilitarian packs of floral wire into these weird little things that I end up just loving to stare at. My work doesn't represent social issues and it won't go up in an exclusive gallery or be featured in a trendy city fashion magazine, but it's what I like to do. I knew that malaise or not, I wanted to work with wire again.

I pulled out some supplies and I'm going to make my first autumn wrap tomorrow. I've never made an autumn wrap, but I have wanted to for a -very- long time. Ever since the beginning when I made my first wrap something like four years ago. It was my hope to do every season, but it took me time to find and make all the supplies and components in 'other season' colors. I should have gotten started on autumn hues at the end of August to have caught this sale season, but at THIS point in my non-accomplishment streak, it would just mean everything to me to have even made ONE autumn wrap and be able to offer it, just to know I finally did it.

---

So, the thoughts have completed... Commence begging:

( Cut for my desperate plea and photos! )

I took a few snapshots, but I don't want to overwhelm this post with info, so I'll give my update later. Somehow, I feel confident you can all survive without it for now and that your lives will not end. XD ...I don't know if that statement obnoxiously humble, or passive aggressively self-depreciatory. All the same... Take care, all!

Oh, and please...! Someone help me!!

SLEEPY!!

Today was pretty busy and so I didn't end up doing some of the things I thought I might with the stationary. Instead I did housework and then gardened and wrote out some cards for friends and family. I also doctored up my favorite plush, Stuffy, who was kind of sick looking and flat.

Toward the end of the night, I realized I hadn't really done anything for my work, so I decided I should do -something-. I kind of banged out a 'onesie' with felt details, ala Lou and Lee style because I love their felt designs. As I was putting it together though, I realised I didn't really know how much a baby would stretch out the cotton and therefore how much extra felt to cut for the give. I think that my design would seriously have to hit the drawing board a few more times. I also tried to put ruffles on the butt, but suffice it to say I think that elastic ruffles would be MUCH better. I can't imagine putting on lace details that weren't gathered and then trying to shove a diaper in there. I don't know a lot about baby figures, but I know those diapers have to be jammed into those bodysuits somehow and they need all the stretch they can get.

Of course, it may have also worked out better if I'd used one of my higher quality jumpsuits rather than one of the cheap cotton ones, but I didn't want to mess up a good quality one while practicing.

( Pics from the day under the cut )
... Well, I'm tired now. Day five technically completed. I'm seriously exhausted. :D Take care, all.

Well, the clip picture is under the cut, if you're interested.


I decided to move on to the stamp carving for my stationary and given what I was trying to carve, I'm pretty darn happy with it. It could be better, but I think that because it's supposed to look a vintage print, it suits well enough! The only thing is that the brown ink I have really doesn't spread well on any kind of stamp I use it on, whether silicone or traditional. I may have to look for another brand! Who knows, though. Maybe the mottled look really works for it.

( Privateer stamp for aged stationary under cut (3 pictures) followed by felt hair clip picture )

I'm starting on silhouettes next. I'm going to do paper and possibly try ink or painted silhouettes. To help me get samples and practice painted silhouettes, I need some models. If you guys send me a picture of you, or someone you want a silhouette of, in profile I'll make a silhouette of it. You can be as you are or do your hair up cute and wear a nice hat. Just send me a LJ message with a link to a picture or e-mail me if you know my e-mail. <3

I took yesterday off cause it turns out that my luffurr got home early and was due to be gone all day today. Oh, and when I say 'yesterday' I mean Friday. As I haven't yet (but will soon!) slept, I still consider it Saturday. In any case...

I finished the first hair clip and filled one of my boxes, but I have yet to fix it up a bit. I don't want to be messing with photos right now because I'm SO tired and I also figure nobody is out there just holding their breath with rapt anticipation of a couple of my snapshots... so I'll just get to it tomorrow.


It must be said though, I don't know if it's the few months off that I took or the fact that I'm doing new techniques which I've never done, but I'm really not coming out too pleased with my work. Most likely I've spoiled myself by working on wirework for so long now that I'm familiar with it and used to making it do what I want. Working with fabric and wood and moss seems like it shouldn't be that hard, but I'm finding very tiny things with it difficult that I didn't anticipate. I'm 'out of shape' and unfamiliar with my materials. I think Monday morning when I start work again that might be an exciting prospect, but for me right now at near 2 am, it's almost depressing.

Well, I'm crashing. Hope everyone has had a good night.<3

I'm working on my list and trying to make at least one new item every day, but I hit so many snags today that my item is only half finished. ;...; What a great track record on only day two. n.n;

The biggest bump in the road is that I can't find my camera dock. Mum arranged some things at my house and it's been missing ever since! D: I totally don't know what to do! To get another dock would be 60$+. I'd be better off just buying a whole new used version of my camera! u...u Business will be going nowhere quick until I get the charger cradle. Oh well. With only 1.5/0.5 new items ready to supplement my previous stock, it's not like I feel ready to open up the gates again anyway.

Such is life. Hopefully I can find that dumb thing. D:

( The roses part of a rose and cameo lace hairclip under cut )

I finished my first powder pot and I'm glad that it still screws on right and that it looks nice and puffy, but I'm not super happy that the color looks so sickly. I don't know what went wrong. It looked nice when I was holding up pieces in the fabric store. Maybe it's the fluorescent lighting at my house. Maybe it's that I went with the darker brown or that I went with the white rather than cream. Maybe it's where I put the pearls higher instead of lower. Maybe the colors clash with beige face powder and the beige would be more flattered by the blue colors I picked out (Oh, I'm so racist against beige!) I really don't know. XD

I think the first one was good practice at least, even if I'll probably end up cutting it off the lid and trying again. The best news of the whole project is that once the powder becomes empty, you can get a new powder and twist the 'pretty' lid on and keep using it. n.n That's not as good for business cause it means once you sell one to a customer, you probably won't sell another... XD But oh well.


( Powder pot under the cut )

Anyway, for a prototype, it could have been much worse, I think! What do you think? x...x