In memoriam

It strikes me that I don't ever put any photography here.  Well, now I will.

It's been a rough week.  :(

Last night, my tea pot shattered.

I was holding it, turning to throw away some tea leaves, and it felt like it just *leaped* out of my hands.  I've no idea how it happened.  It was probably inevitable.  I think the only person in the world who can match my talent for breaking dishes is my two-year-old.  But even so, it was horrifying.

My tea pot was wonderful.  It was polish pottery which I had gotten from Germany.  It leaves behind a grieving tea warmer and some cousin polish pottery.

I *did* manage to find a replacement online (actually two replacements, but one will have to do for now), but my old tea pot will still be missed.  :(  I will be sad and altogether angry for some time.  Accidents happen, it's part of life, but they can still be so stupid.

(At least Harrison Ford wasn't seriously injured in that crash today....I was really worried for a moment; my week has had enough sorrow, I couldn't handle any more.)

Shameless

Shamelessly copying Jessica shamelessly copying me.

 

Yesterday I made a pancake that looked like a cat.  (Jessica's cat, to be exact.  Mine do not have floofully tails.)  So then for dinner, Jessica made an even better pancake kitty.  So then I decided to use her pancake as a drawing template.  I have decided that shameless copying is not a bad thing.

Perfect Moments

So yesterday I learned of Leonard Nimoy's death.

I felt pretty crushed.

I am not really over DeForest Kelly's death, either, 

but this one...I knew this one would really get to me.

Sometimes you just know, even when you can't really know first hand, that a person is good and special.

He unquestionably made a huge difference in the world.

And he will be very sorely missed here.

When I read his last public words, I really lost it.

How amazing and astoundingly appropriate.

I've got plans for this, but I've really got to straighten out that lettering...

My Little Pony handmade sketchbook

So before I could start our sketchbook project...I had to finish making my sketchbook!
I have learned that I love love love book making.  <3 p="">

 I had done the text block this last summer with various types of paper.  The cover is done in paper collage with a touch of ink, and fabric on the spine. 
The characters on the front are Japanese.  It says "My Little Pony".

 It was clearly not complete til it had a sliding baby pony on the back!

 I must note that the headband matches the pony bows perfectly!
(Was very proud of this detail.)

 There is something about paper collage that I love on the covers.
Perhaps it is the slight dimensionality it gives.

Scarlett (my four-year-old) watched me intently through part of the process.
 Then she came back with this!  So precious.
 Note the attention to detail by using ink lines on the rainbow.

(I don't know why that picture is sideways...it just refuses to cooperate.
Maybe it has been talking with my children...)

Here are the other books I have made, alternately using fabric and paper.

Hey, I'm gonna start posting!

 So I have a little motivation these days...and I need something to keep me sane.  Jessica and I have embarked on a sketchbook project to kick us into gear.  She suggested it at just the right moment it seems, when I really needed it and I finally managed to get a bit of energy.

 

WaniKani Practice

 This is how I practice kanji.

Japanese calligraphy

Practicing my calligraphy with various implements.  Above is my Budda Board, which I love love love and think it gives me the best results...sadly, that water evaporates awfully fast...  Below are samples, scanned, attempting various implements...brushes and dip pens mostly, though there is also probably a brush pen in there somewhere.

 The scans are pretty stark, so here is a photo (which also shows the whole papers).

And why yes, I *did* just make a post!!