The pen is made of Honduran Rosewood and the pen kit used is called Slimline. I wish I could take some credit for the box, but it was purchased at a woodworking store.
June 15, 2011
I Returned To The Scene Of The Crime
The scene where I was brutally assaulted by my own clumsiness. (You can read about it here) I am happy to report that my thumb is healing nicely and I returned to the garage to finish the pen I was working on. Doesn't it look nice? Hubby has given it away. It was raffled off at a conference. I hope the new owner appreciates all the blood, sweat and (surprisingly) no tears that went into it.
The pen is made of Honduran Rosewood and the pen kit used is called Slimline. I wish I could take some credit for the box, but it was purchased at a woodworking store.
The pen is made of Honduran Rosewood and the pen kit used is called Slimline. I wish I could take some credit for the box, but it was purchased at a woodworking store.
June 14, 2011
Favorite Photo Tuesday #11
Last week the kids and I joined a large group of our friends for a nature walk in and around some of the causeways and bayous. We got to encounter quite a bit of wildlife. Lots of birds, frogs, bugs, turtles and our very first alligator sighting. He was about 4 1/2 to 5 feet in length and swam right up to the dock we were on. Good thing the dock had a deck railing all the way around it.
Now that we know where to find them, the kids and I might have to go hunting for more alligator sightings.
Now that we know where to find them, the kids and I might have to go hunting for more alligator sightings.
June 13, 2011
Tutorial: Hanging a Canvas
Last week you got to see a glimpse of the fun the kids and I had trying our hand at Painting a Pollock. Today I am going to show you how we hung it up.
On a total side note, last week week we took a visit to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and got to see a Pollock up close and personal! Just wish I could have taken a photo of it, but I didn't want to get kicked out of the museum.
In order to hang a canvas, there are a few items you will need. Most of which you can find around your house and the rest you can buy individually or get in a picture framing kit.
Once the eye screw is started, you can turn it by hand. If it's a little difficult to turn towards the end, take a screw and use it as leverage to turn your eye screw.
You should have 4 eye screws in place. Each upper corner of your canvas should look like this.
Next, you will need your picture wire. You will need it to be 2 1/2 times the length of your canvas. Start on either of the sides and loop your picture wire and then tie it off by winding it tightly around itself.
You will string it from the left side, to the top right, then to the right side, to the left top, then back to the left side. It will make a big "X" in the center from where it crosses. You will also have two triangles, one on either side.
Pull tightly (but not super tight) and tie off the end of the wire like you did the first time.
Cut off the excess with either your scissors or wire cutters. Your canvas is done and now comes the easy part. Grab your hammer and picture hook and nail it into the wall where you want your painting hung up. Then hang your canvas on the picture hook where the "X" is on the back of your canvas. The reason for the "X" is to make it easier for your painting to hang level.
It's a fairly simple process and doesn't take long at all to do.
On a total side note, last week week we took a visit to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and got to see a Pollock up close and personal! Just wish I could have taken a photo of it, but I didn't want to get kicked out of the museum.
In order to hang a canvas, there are a few items you will need. Most of which you can find around your house and the rest you can buy individually or get in a picture framing kit.
Pencil
Ruler
Eye screws
Hammer
Picture wire
Picture hook
Scissors or wire cutters
Determine which side of your canvas is going to be up (because on a Pollack, it could be any way). Make sure to mark the back with which side is up. Then from each corner, measure about 1/4 of the length and mark it with your pencil. Take an eye screw and tap it into the wood with your hammer.
Once the eye screw is started, you can turn it by hand. If it's a little difficult to turn towards the end, take a screw and use it as leverage to turn your eye screw.
You should have 4 eye screws in place. Each upper corner of your canvas should look like this.
Next, you will need your picture wire. You will need it to be 2 1/2 times the length of your canvas. Start on either of the sides and loop your picture wire and then tie it off by winding it tightly around itself.
You will string it from the left side, to the top right, then to the right side, to the left top, then back to the left side. It will make a big "X" in the center from where it crosses. You will also have two triangles, one on either side.
Pull tightly (but not super tight) and tie off the end of the wire like you did the first time.
Cut off the excess with either your scissors or wire cutters. Your canvas is done and now comes the easy part. Grab your hammer and picture hook and nail it into the wall where you want your painting hung up. Then hang your canvas on the picture hook where the "X" is on the back of your canvas. The reason for the "X" is to make it easier for your painting to hang level.
It's a fairly simple process and doesn't take long at all to do.
June 10, 2011
Geektasticly Awesome Quilt - Waka Waka
I was cruising around on fabric.com one fine day and came across fabric called Geeks Gone Wild Pac-man and knew that I had to have it. I mean seriously, a fabric that is paying homage to one of the greatest video games ever made, who couldn't resist that. There is a reason why I don't own a gaming system other than a Pac-man plug and play. If I did own a gaming system like a Playstation or X-box...I don't think this blog would exist. I'm kind of an addict.
Anyways, it has been sitting in my art room for a few months when Prudent Baby announced their Embroidery Contest. That is when I knew I had to kick it into gear and get a quilt done for Colton. I am sure you are wondering the connection between quilting and embroidery...I decided that I was going to hand embroider Pac-man's catch phrase of, "Waka Waka Waka," across the quilt.
I purchased my coordinating fabrics and went to town on doing the quilt. I decided (with this being only the second quilt I have ever done) that I would do a strip quilt since it seemed much simpler than blocks.
I cut out randomly sized strips of all my fabrics, I made one large strip with the Pac-man fabric. I arranged the way I wanted to started sewing. It came together rather quickly which was great. I then cut out and appliqued Pac-man to my large strip of the Pac-man fabric.
Now, I am sure that I probably didn't do the batting correctly, but I did a fantastic job with the binding. I am a person who most definitely learns by trial and error. This is a vast improvement over my first quilt. I intend on making more in the future, but probably not right away. I am going to bask in the glow of this being a super duper kick butt quilt with a seriously geeky boy flair.
Anways, enough about me telling you how cool this quilt is, why don't I just show you?
Maben pointing out my hand embroidered, "waka, waka, waka."
Maben sitting on the quilt, asking me if this is another blanket for him. That would be a no pumpkin. Your brother deserves things every once in a while too.
The little monster Colton standing next to his new quilt...which he so proudly asked to sleep with that night! Woo hoo! He likes it!
And a shot of the back with all it's imperfections. There are a few, but I honestly didn't feel like redoing it and I am still learning.
A special thanks to my hubby for holding up the quilt and the boys for actually posing for me. So all you quilters out there, how did I do for my second quilt? Not sure what the learning curve is with quilting. Is anyone else as geeky excited about this as I am? I might have to show this off to my favorite geeky online store, Think Geek. They have some totally awesome gift ideas for even the not so geeky (And I am not paid to talk them up, just love the occasional shopping there).
Showing this awesome quilt off at the following places:
Anyways, it has been sitting in my art room for a few months when Prudent Baby announced their Embroidery Contest. That is when I knew I had to kick it into gear and get a quilt done for Colton. I am sure you are wondering the connection between quilting and embroidery...I decided that I was going to hand embroider Pac-man's catch phrase of, "Waka Waka Waka," across the quilt.
I purchased my coordinating fabrics and went to town on doing the quilt. I decided (with this being only the second quilt I have ever done) that I would do a strip quilt since it seemed much simpler than blocks.
I cut out randomly sized strips of all my fabrics, I made one large strip with the Pac-man fabric. I arranged the way I wanted to started sewing. It came together rather quickly which was great. I then cut out and appliqued Pac-man to my large strip of the Pac-man fabric.
Now, I am sure that I probably didn't do the batting correctly, but I did a fantastic job with the binding. I am a person who most definitely learns by trial and error. This is a vast improvement over my first quilt. I intend on making more in the future, but probably not right away. I am going to bask in the glow of this being a super duper kick butt quilt with a seriously geeky boy flair.
Anways, enough about me telling you how cool this quilt is, why don't I just show you?
Maben pointing out my hand embroidered, "waka, waka, waka."
Maben sitting on the quilt, asking me if this is another blanket for him. That would be a no pumpkin. Your brother deserves things every once in a while too.
The little monster Colton standing next to his new quilt...which he so proudly asked to sleep with that night! Woo hoo! He likes it!
And a shot of the back with all it's imperfections. There are a few, but I honestly didn't feel like redoing it and I am still learning.
A special thanks to my hubby for holding up the quilt and the boys for actually posing for me. So all you quilters out there, how did I do for my second quilt? Not sure what the learning curve is with quilting. Is anyone else as geeky excited about this as I am? I might have to show this off to my favorite geeky online store, Think Geek. They have some totally awesome gift ideas for even the not so geeky (And I am not paid to talk them up, just love the occasional shopping there).
Showing this awesome quilt off at the following places:
June 8, 2011
A Trip to the ER or A Fun Night Out?
Tuesday night I was out turning a pen in the garage and to make a long story short, I tripped and stabbed the back of my thumb with a turning tool. It was not pretty and I kept my head about me and just casually asked my husband to come downstairs while my thumb was bleeding profusely. He helped bandage me up and then I asked him to wrap my hand in a plastic bag so I could shower.
That's right folks, instead of heading straight to the ER, I was going to shower. I probably had some funky B.O. going on, had covered myself earlier in the day with bug spray and was currently coated in a layer of saw dust. I knew if stitches were going to be coming, they couldn't get wet, so I was going to rid myself of all that grime prior to the ER.
Once that was done, hubby stayed at home with sleeping kids and I drove myself to the ER at Christus St. Catherine. I had a stack of magazines with me and was prepared to wait a long time. The whole trip took just over 2 hours. Seriously impressed!
The nurse that I had was amazing, sweet and fun. Seriously a girl I would love to be friends with. The doctor was very nice and had better bedside manner than any other ER doctor I have encountered. The radiology tech was really fun to talk to and everything was done so quickly!
Of course, having to explain exactly what happened to me was difficult when I was dealing with people who had no idea what I was talking about. So, I busted out some photos and showed them some of the things I do.
Like this...
And this...
And this...
And this...
They got the picture of what happened after they realized what I was doing. I really did jab my thumb with a sharp pointy tool.
The cut on my thumb extends from the cuticle all the way down over the knuckle. Not an ideal spot to put stitches, so instead they used Steri strips...after they cleaned it out of course! (Which surprisingly didn't hurt).
Now, I am left with this and an awesome lesson learned of, "watch where you are walking!" You can't forget shop safety, even for a moment.
So, a big thanks to all the wonderful folks over at Christus St. Catherine Hospital's Emergency Department, you guys made what would have normally been a dreaded trip to the ER a whole lot of fun.
That's right folks, instead of heading straight to the ER, I was going to shower. I probably had some funky B.O. going on, had covered myself earlier in the day with bug spray and was currently coated in a layer of saw dust. I knew if stitches were going to be coming, they couldn't get wet, so I was going to rid myself of all that grime prior to the ER.
Once that was done, hubby stayed at home with sleeping kids and I drove myself to the ER at Christus St. Catherine. I had a stack of magazines with me and was prepared to wait a long time. The whole trip took just over 2 hours. Seriously impressed!
The nurse that I had was amazing, sweet and fun. Seriously a girl I would love to be friends with. The doctor was very nice and had better bedside manner than any other ER doctor I have encountered. The radiology tech was really fun to talk to and everything was done so quickly!
Of course, having to explain exactly what happened to me was difficult when I was dealing with people who had no idea what I was talking about. So, I busted out some photos and showed them some of the things I do.
Like this...
And this...
And this...
And this...
The cut on my thumb extends from the cuticle all the way down over the knuckle. Not an ideal spot to put stitches, so instead they used Steri strips...after they cleaned it out of course! (Which surprisingly didn't hurt).
Now, I am left with this and an awesome lesson learned of, "watch where you are walking!" You can't forget shop safety, even for a moment.
So, a big thanks to all the wonderful folks over at Christus St. Catherine Hospital's Emergency Department, you guys made what would have normally been a dreaded trip to the ER a whole lot of fun.
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