Doro-DANG-o!

Dear Shayne,

You know my crazy plan to make a shiny mud ball? Yeah, well.

FAIL.



Apparently my mud ball was not dry enough when I left it out of its plastic bag all day today. I came home to find what you see above.

I guess I should appreciate this interesting effect, but I'm just bummed right now. All that work for nothing. Poo.

I probably won't try again. Dorodango is a jerk.

I'm going to go knit now.

love,
kelly

What should I cast in resin?

Dear Shayne,

This weekend, my friend Hollie and I are going to try our hand at pouring some resin. That means I have about 5 days to figure out what I'm going to put in there.

I already have:


Sprinkles (Mmmm...)


Buttons (of course)


Keyboard keys (if I can cut the unsightly backs off...)


Scrabble tiles

What else?
- Safety pins?
- Postage stamps?
- Maybe a little embroidery piece? I wonder how that would work.

I used to have a ton of Barbie shoes that I gave away... I think they would be a blast to cast in resin. I've also seen watch parts cast, which looks neat. Perhaps I need to hit the thrift store this week and see what I can't stir up.

I once saw an amazing necklace with a threaded needle cast in resin, but now I can't find it. Where did I see that? Etsy? Craftster? Hrm. Ah, yes -- Craftster. Here is is right here. Pretty sweet, eh?

Sooo... got any good ideas for me?

love,
kelly

Happy Mother's Day!

Dear Shayne,

Happy Mother's Day!

This year, I gave my mom something that is mostly crafted by someone else, but is also sort of crafted by me. Her name is Rosemary (Hi, Mom!) and I bought this great letterpress card last week from Lizard Press at the Bazaar Bizarre:


I have a Logan mat cutter (a tool that I love soooo much) so I cut a mat for it and framed it (that's the part I crafted):


My mom has a rosemary themed kitchen and I have given her many items over the years to fill it up (much to her husband's dismay, although I think he's finally at peace with it). She had recently asked for something new for the collection, so I was happy to find this card.

I saw Lizard Press again yesterday at the PCBA Printers' Fair. You should check out her Etsy shop -- these letterpress Emoticon cards crack me up. Also, I love the amazing texture of these William Morris cards -- what a lovely effect.

I hope you (and everyone else reading this, mother or not) have a wonderful day today!

love,
kelly

PodPost = Awesome

Dear Shayne,

This morning, I attended the Pacific Center for the Book Arts (PCBA) Printers' Fair at Fort Mason. The PCBA site doesn't have very much info on it, but here's what it says at the Fort Mason site:

"Letterpress printers, book artists, calligraphers, paper marblers, ‘zine publishers & book enthusiasts share their love of the word in all its forms. Come meet artists, see crafts-folk at work & see the tools & equipment of the book arts. Vendors offer unique handcrafted books, papers & journals, old-fashioned equipment, book-making supplies, letterpress ‘zines & subscription art."

It was pretty darned cool.

I was alerted to this event by a note from the letter-lovin' gals of PodPost, who had a table at the show. I ended up buying a "Mail Art Goodie Bag" from them (cause you know I have a weakness for random junk):


Being a fellow member of the Letter Writers Alliance, you'll appreciate this story:

I'm on the PodPost mailing list because I ordered a "Mail Art Bento box" from their shop last year (very cool). They wrapped my package in a fantastic Adrian Tomine print, which I then re-purposed as an envelope and sent back to them. Hee hee. As a result, I got this terrific handmade postcard from "Jennie-Pod" (one of the Pods):


It's pretty sweet -- a bunch of stickers covering a bland USPS pre-postage paid postcard and then embellished with stamps. Here's the back:


It was great to meet Jennie and Carolee in person -- they were in their full PostPod uniforms (check that link -- the outfits rock) and they were super friendly.

Obviously, I fully embrace today's communication technology (email, blogging, etc.) but there is something to be said for getting mail that's not bills or junk. Podpost certainly makes sending those letters more fun.

All right. I'm off to send a "real" letter... it might even be to YOU!

love,
kelly

PS -- If you were inspired by this post to send someone some real mail, remember that US postal rates are going up this Monday, May 12. Domestic letters are now 42 cents. (Still a bargain!)

Oh yeah

Dear Kelly,

I make *the* best brownies ever. Seriously, I don't know what it is, 'cause I just use a box mix, but everyone who's ever had one agrees that they are the best! I used to think it was the weakness with which I stirred the batter, but in more recent years I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, so that's not it. Anywho, since I made brownies tonight, I thought I'd share my exact brown-making details to try to help those who don't make the best brownies. Ever.

1. Buy Betty Crocker brownie mix - either the Supreme with Hershey's Syrup or the one with the Hershey's chocolate chunks.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. Spray bottom of 8 x 8 pyrex pan with baking spray. (I always used to use Baker's Joy, but I can't find it anymore, so I use PAM baking spray.)
4. Combine brownie mix, water, canola oil, 2 eggs (large, I think - whatever they give you in the 8-pack) and Hershey's Syrup packet and mix thoroughly. I use an OXO plastic mixing bowl with spout and rubber bottom and a rubber spatula.
5. Pour almost all of the mix into the pan. Leave just enough in the bowl to satisfy your need to eat raw brownie batter.
6. Pop pan in the oven for 50 minutes. Remember to set timer!
   
7. Fill house with delicious scent of brownies, while simultaneously disgusting your husband who hates chocolate.
8. Remove pan from oven.
9. Let cool only to the point of being able to eat brownies without causing third degree burns to mouth.
10. Enjoy!

Love,
Shayne

P.S. This pan of brownies is from a while back. I can't remember why I made them in the round pan. Were both of my square pyrex pans dirty? Hmmm.