study in futility

hmmm...it's been a while. but then again, it's not like there are very many people who follow my stupid blog, so I guess that's not a problem. I guess I always join things too late, after everyone has already set everything in stone, and I'm trying to squeeze in and find a place amongst people. I've been realizing lately how everyone I've ever met has these awesome lives, filled with friends and art and events, and I've got....nothing. So self-pitying aside, here's some stuff that you'd be able to see if you check my Facebook... sorry, even I was laughing at that point.


This is a polish chicken, in case you were wondering.


A squirrel having a heart attack. It's funny cause it's true. hmm, wait a minute. That didn't make sense.

I accidentally called this little guy Cyril before I realized I had named him Cyril the Squirrel. Had no idea until I told a coworker and then I was like, "crap. Cyril....the squirrel."


W

ok so jewelry is taking a back seat.

but only for a little while. I'm just enjoying being goofy with pen and ink. First I drew a giraffe, but didn't want to finish his markings, so I made him white. Steve said I should pretend that it's an ancient relative of the giraffe. But then I was like, "hey. parachuting apples." and so I did it.



Then I drew an octopus. I love sea creatures because hundreds of years ago, people thought they were sea monsters. And I figured it would be quite a predicament if he had a lollipop in each hand. Which to eat first?




Then I was drawing with my neighbor and he wanted me to draw rabbits parachuting from the sky and I realized they would probably need some sort of goggles and gloves while they're parachuting. So then I drew that one.




W

Printings people leave behind

will be the theme for my next set of jewelry pieces. There is so much crap that people print out and never come get. Anything that comes through as student printing and isn't picked up in 3 (count em' 3) days becomes property of ME. Nothing personal, of course. Articles and recipes and book chapters that people forget about? They're mine. And to start off, I have a lovely nearly 500 page BOOK about countries near the Philippines that I can meander through.

In other news, we now have had a baby squirrel literally stuck in the library, some droppings - well, ok. not some droppings... more like a lot of droppings in every room of the library from an unnamed creature (hopefully a mouse), and a raccoon trying desperately to get into the library. This place is becoming a wildlife refuge.

Wendi

Arcadia Thesis

I'm going to be going to Arcadia's thesis show and it's going to be awesome (because I'll get to see great work and even greater people) and totally depressing (because that once was me and it never will be again. Also because my life sucks)

W

Bridesmaid dresses are designed to make bridesmaids look bad...

...nevertheless, I will be heading down to visit my sister tonight and trying on numerous bridesmaid dresses for her impending wedding. I'm pretty sure I'll hate every dress we try on, but I guess we'll have a good time. No more new work to show because I'm lazy and unmotivated.

However, I did help install a water tank last Saturday, and this Saturday I will be playing background piano at a Tea my church will be having. Should be embarrassing, but I'm hoping that because I'll be background noise, not many people will focus in on me. I'll also get paid and eat for free, lol. I'll be playing a rousing selection of jazz songs (Alvin would be so proud of me!) and classical music. Apropo of music (I'm pretty sure I used that word correctly), I watched Coraline the other day and right away decided I had to learn the song the Other Father plays on piano. It's by They Might Be Giants, so naturally, it's awesome. I googled it, and voila! sheet music! I love the internet sometimes.

oh reading, how i've missed you.

So I'm back on reading and off jellybeans. I only like the black jellybeans anyway, and they are tough to find.

I am reading an annotated version of the Wizard of Oz, a book called Witchcraft Today (printed in 1988, so really Witchcraft 22 Years Ago) and Ferdydurke. I love them all and wish I could own them, but they are library books. I believe I use the library system to its highest capabilities. That or I abuse it. But either way, I love it.

I know I'm the only one who even takes note of this blog, and that, in many ways, saddens me. But in other ways, it's nice. Or maybe I'm just delusional. I made a second version of the owl ring and it is getting better and better. I think I'm going to make a third version, and maybe I'll actually get paid for this one. I don't really care either way, I'm just enjoying having a reason to go into my fun little studio. It's not the kind of thing I would make for myself, and it's definitely not so much my aesthetic because it's kind of kitschy and simple, but I'm making something and that can't be a bad thing.

W

Franklin Pierce was the first president to be arrested....

...because he ran down a woman while he was riding a horse. And Grant was the second president arrested because he was riding a 'spirited horse' and exceeded the speed limit. Yeah... Did you know FDR had mistresses? And that on his death bed, his children had set it up so that his mistress would be with him? Apparently Eleanor was rather cold. Frigid, if the book is correct. She actually moved away from FDR and would not return to him, regardless of his ill health. All of the amazing things that you can learn for books. Seriously. "The Presidents and Their Wives". Get it. Read it. Oh, by the way, I finished the European capitals. I decided to use flash cards because it always worked for me in school. Do you want to know the capital of Lithuania? I don't either. My brain can't retain ANY MORE INFORMATION. but I'm trying.

W

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria...

I love to learn. People must think I'm crazy when they see me sitting at the circ desk with maps of Europe and lists of all the European countries and their capitals. No, I'm not studying and I'm not taking a history or geography class. I JUST LOVE LEARNING. I have already mastered U.S. States and their capitals, and after I conquer Europe I'll make a go at memorizing the presidents. Thanks to the Monkees episode where Peter wins dance lessons, I already know Martin Van Buren is the eighth president. But back to Europe. I think Europe needs to figure out how many countries it has because some are just territories and others see themselves as autonomous countries but the European Union or NATO does not. Get it together, Europe, and get back to me. Thanks.

W

At the library

It's 9:30 on a Monday night and I'm at the library. I'm writing a post on a blog. that no one reads. Thumbs up for me. I have been neglecting my studio for too long and I'm dying to get down there and make something (anything!) but I am utterly unmotivated. I feel bad but not too bad because I can't get anything done, so it's not like I'm being really productive on any other fronts and just ignoring metalsmithing. I am looking forward to warmer weather because my dad got me some nitric acid for etching on silver - which I will only be using outside - and also because he's working on perfecting the forge so that we can do some blacksmithing. When he sets his mind to something, nothing can stand in his way. If only he could get this excited about finishing the kitchen cabinets...

New Necklace!

So, I admit, this blog thing has been getting the best of me. I can't believe how hard it is to keep up with something (anything) now that I'm out of school. But anyway, my dad badgered me until finally I went into my studio (really, just a corner of our basement that is MINE) and made something. And I like it. I'm currently wearing it. I want to make more stuff like it. Also, I've got my work on display at my local library. Just sort of a highlight of a Roxbury denizen. It's cool, they put a bunch of arts and crafts books in the display, too, so my stuff doesn't look completely dwarfed by empty display cases. It's in for the month of January. If I get some pictures of it, I'll try and post them. Here's what I made yesterday.
I think it's pretty cool. Bird cutouts, I do love them.