What to do with your #4 plastic?

There are some things in life that are just so simple that it astounds me how entertaining it can be.  Like melting plastic, for example.  I have wanted to fuse plastic for a long time because I simply love recycling/reusing materials and I adore all the cute items I see made with it.  Really, just search "fused plastic" on Etsy and see what you get.  It's funky and waterproof.  Perfect.  And we have a HUGE sack of plastic shopping bags that go unused.


I am, sadly, without a sewing machine.  I haven't really committed to being here for the long haul so I haven't wanted to make the investment.  I am also too lazy to do a lot of hand sewing.  This is how I ended up with christmas light covers.  I just fused about four layers of plastic together (the bags are rather thick, use 6-8 layers for thin bags) then cut out the shapes afterwards. I wrapped each around a light and stapled it together at the opening. I think they are wonderful.  A bit whimsical without being too cutesy.  I have them, for the time being, hanging in one long strip vertically in the kitchen.  


There are numerous tutorials spread about the web on how to fuse plastic, so I will save myself the energy of posting one and just refer you [here] or, if you prefer to learn by video go [here].  It's seriously easy.  Don't forget to work in a well ventilated area.  Even though I didn't smell anything, I won't pretend that fumes weren't floating all around me.

WE: What are you hungry for?

dancing tree bones 1, originally uploaded by tteerriitt over working...trying to catch up.

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Christi Himmelfahrt + Birthday = Excuse to Get Away

For a larger view of any photo, simply click on it.

I now have the much promised photos and stories from last weekends adventure.  The four day stint in Berlin was half spent in Neukölln (the neighborhood where Eva lives) and half spent exploring.... 


I arrived Thursday to a wall of rain which saddened our sightseeing efforts a bit.  We managed to get out for a walk, crossing the canal and walking along the path of the former wall, straddling what was once the East and the West (above).  I have no kind of reference for what that really means.  I was eight Germany was reunited and I don't recall having any kind of conversation about it.  It's strange for me to think that this Germany has existed now for just 20 years.


I fell in love with the Ampelmänner of the former East.  I think they have such personality.  After the wall fell there was debate over whether or not to continue using them.  I'm quite pleased that they are still around.  Not to mention they now have shops with a whole line of clothing, accessories and stickers.  Some of their sillier items incluse salt and pepper shakers and Ampelmann shaped pasta which, I am assuming, you can order at the Ampelmann Restaurant.  


Saturday we made it all around and one of the last stops was the East Side Gallery.  A strip of the wall is still standing and covered in artwork.  We didn't walk the full 1.3 km, but it was powerful all the same.


In this torn city there are many memorials and this one was probably my favorite.  The Memorial for Murdered Jews of Europe is different than any memorial I have ever been to.  You are welcome to enter and walk through the rows and rows of towering concrete blocks.  I think it encourages the kind of thought and reflection one should have when visiting a memorial.  I could have spent an hour in there.  

We happened to be in the city the day they were celebrating 60 years of Germany.  There were a million visitors to Berlin for the celebrations and the area in front of the Brandenburg Gate and leading to the Victory Column was packed with people listening to music, eating, and drinking beer.  Of course.

It also happened to be the day the Parliament voted on the new President.  We approached the Reichstag (Parliament Building- above) just minutes before the announcement.  There wasn't a lot of excitement about the event as the President doesn't actually do much of anything.  He is mostly a face, an ambassador of sorts.  Because of the election we weren't able to go into the Parliament Building but instead took a rest in front of it, enjoying the sun we were blessed with.


Another little break was taken in a beer garden in front of the victory column.  A little refueling before climbing the 230 or so steps to the top of the tower.  Christian ordered a Berliner Kindl (above) and unfortunately I sampled.  Think of a very light pilsner with green jello mix thrown in.  Not recommended.  The climb to the top of the tower, however, very recommended.  As you can see from my very first photo, the day was clear and gorgeous and we had a very good view of Berlin.

While seeing all the sites is always interesting and historical, I prefer to sort of wander aimlessly and see what I run into.  I get a better sense of what a place is really like and less of what the city is trying to sell.  Berlin is a very unique capital city.  It is most often the case that the capital is the nicest, cleanest, and most expensive in the country.  Berlin, however, seems to be a struggling city.  Many people lost their jobs after the fall of the wall and apartments stand empty.  Buildings are crumbling and the streets are dirty.  It seems, too, to be the city that all the "freaks" and artists flee to which makes it my kind of place.


Spaces that would usually be shoved off as old and unusable are recycled into art galleries, rehearsal spaces and cafes.

The entire aesthetic of Berlin neighborhoods is fed by the idea unwanted things/people/spaces.  It's diverse, textural and interesting. 

The market is full and lively.  We walked away with a bag full of 15 mangoes for just two Euros.

Along the canal old buildings are turned into bars.  On one side it's usually full with a young crowd, lounging on the floating docks, on the other side, a more quiet cafe with cozy couches and firelight.

And everywhere you go someone has found a way to take a space and turn it into art.

I have many more photos of the trip on Flickr.  Go [here] for all the sites and [here] for the street art.

Rhubarb Pudding Cake

Sometimes I just need to bake.  As I rode by a farm on my way home today I stopped in to pick up some fresh strawberries and saw a heap of fabulous looking rhubarb.  I couldn't walk away without it and threw some fresh eggs in the mix as well.  I loaded up my basket made my way home to find my roommate in the kitchen.  We had a lovely evening cooking, baking, talking, and of course reaping the rewards of our labor.  I made this pudding cake originally found in Cooking Light some years ago.  I have left the recipe as written, but I always like to reduce the sugar a bit (I really love the tartness of the rhubarb).  This is super simple to make for a casual dessert.  

Recipe after the jump.


Rhubarb Pudding Cake

serves about nine

Ingredients

• 1 c              flour
  
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  
• 1/8 tsp    salt
  
• 5 Tbsp     butter, softened
  
• 1 1/3 c     sugar, divided
  
• 1 tsp         vanilla extract
  
• 1/4 tsp    ground cinnamon
  
• 1                large egg
  
• 1/2 c        1% low-fat milk or soy milk
  
• 4 c           (1-inch-thick) slices rhubarb (about 1 pound)
  
• Cooking spray
  

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350°.
  
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. 
  
• Place butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add 2/3 cup granulated sugar; beat until well blended. Add vanilla, cinnamon, and egg, beating well. 
  
• Add flour mixture and milk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat just until smooth.
  
• Combine rhubarb and remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar in an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spoon batter over rhubarb mixture. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
  

pillow in the bedroom series

[This blog] offers up daily tips/suggestions like the one above. Some are easily executed, others take a bit more dedication. But Either way, when participating it's a lovely thought to think that a hundred other people are doing the exact same ridiculous thing as you. Go [here] for more pillow photos on Flickr.

new crafty venture

I tried my hand at making ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) for a swap on Swap-Bot. The idea of swapping cards is at once silly and intriguing (think baseball cards for artists). Really, it's just an excuse to get creative and the small format makes the idea of creating something not so daunting.  I made two for this swap.


These ATC's had to be made out of recycled materials and I am quite proud of how mine turned out. It was fun to look at my pile of stuff to be thrown away and think of a way to make it work.  For both I used an old cereal box for the base, it's sturdiness making it a natural selection.  I cut up my old tube ticket and layered it beneath a cutout layer for the first card.  I like it, it has a reptilian scaliness feel to it.

For the second card I took a page from a German novel and cut the same pattern, though reflected, as the first.  Then I cut thin slices from a bike tube to glue as the outline.  For the sleeve I used a beat up page protector, cut it down, and sewed in some leftover silver thread to make three sections.  Honestly, many ATC's I see are a bit on the cutesy side for my liking.  I like these little bits of mini, modern art.  Unfortunately, I shipped them off this afternoon.  But I think I will do a few more of these swaps in the future....
What have you made recently?

A Song for You: Another World

Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light

Antony and the Johnsons Website

My Lady Story - Live

Painted Decay

I would have been happy wandering the streets of Berlin just on the lookout for street art. It is everywhere and a lot of it is really amazing. I would wander and wander, stopping into cafes for a coffee and a rest. I got some good photos, but would love to do an art hunt.


For the full graffiti set on Flickr go {here}

SLC to BER

A few signs of home in the streets of Berlin.

What happened to the weekend (and the exposing that usually happens)?

Berlin happened. I went to celebrate my friend Eva's birthday (that would be her next to me in the red jacket).  I saw and did a lot and am now needing to recover from my little vacation.  Stories to follow soon and some more photos once I comb through all 450 of them.

Sorry for not posting WE this weekend..... all will return to normal next week.

Sunny day away

I had a project assignment to take and send some spring photos. I used that as an excuse to take a lovely lone bike ride through both the city and countryside for my photo opportunities. Here is a little selection, of what I saw. More photos after the jump.

Spiced Cocoa Rain

1. ginger roots isolated, 2. Hot Chocolate, 3. "And then she woke up." I suppose there are worse endings..., 4. Best milk froth I've ever seen!, 5. Cinnamon. Sticks., 6. MILK FROTHER 1, 7. whole nutmeg, 8. Grated nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and ground cloves, 9. Spice: Clove

Spring is gorgeous in Münster, though you must be patient through the rain to witness it's beauty. Today was such a day. Warm but very wet. The rain cut right through me. After getting home from work I was finished and am sitting down now in front of the computer with a cuppa loveliness inspired by what you see above...


My favorite hot cocoa and go to soul healing drink. The weather is just warm enough that I have my windows open, listening to the pit patting of drops hitting pavement and roofs. My twinkle lights on and a few candles lit, with Devendra Banhart playing quietly around me.  It is in these moments that I conjure up the memories of all the people I love and pull them up closely as a blanket around me. 

Curious about my concoction? I do love to share....

Be warned, there is no exact kind of science to the thing, but go intuitively with what you think your tastes will allow and I am sure you will be satisfied.

• Enough steamy hot milk or soy to fill your favorite mug (plus a little extra for some frothy goodness)
  
• Your favorite cocoa drink mix. (I love Stephens, for you Utahns, or if you get your hands on Scharffen Berger you will not be dissappointed)
  
• 1/2 tsp. or so of instant coffee, just for some earthy flavor
• At your discretion:  ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves
• Mix like mad.  If you have a milk frother top your drink off with some extra fun.  (mine was a cheap $2.00 deal and works like magic)

As a note, if you use vanilla soy be prepared for a very decadent experience.  It comes out thick and smooth.  However, I recommend using a dark chocolate cocoa mix.  The results are otherwise too sweet for my liking.

Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite soul nourishing drink?  Please share, I would love to try it.

WE: If there were no road blocks, which road would you be taking?

Domesticity, originally uploaded by Blue Algae Creative.

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SLC: changedowndances

For those of you in Salt Lake I am just giving a heads up for something to do this weekend. The dance community has grown a lot over the last few years and with the opening of The Sugar Space in October 2007 the possibilities for new and emerging artists to show their work has been greatly expanded as well as offering a great variety of classes. This weekend a friend of mine will be showing an evening of work called 'Bridging'. Go out and support Chantal, the dancers, the space, the scene.... all of it.  From Changedown Dances:

A show about getting to know a person, a community and a country is happening this weekend at Sugar Space for the Arts and it is called 'bridging'. 

Produced by Sugar Space Artist in Residency and changedowndances
Perfomances by Nannette Bayles McMullin, Krista Arnott Di Lello, Jordan Wonnacott, Evita Johsnon, Lindsey Challis, Chantal Downing and Heather Arnett. Featuring work by Heather Arnett and Brittany Ann Gadbury. Also choreography and direction by Chantal Downing.

Sugar Space
616 East Wilmington Ave 2190 South SLC
Show starts at 7:30
Tickets are 10$/ 8$ students and teachers /5$ young ones are welcome.

More information and photos to be found on the {group page} on facebook.

Crafty Cozy

After a year of living here I have finally broken down and gotten a mobile phone. I have resisted simply because I don't like the thought of being reached at every moment of the day. But a some events have passed that made me think having one for an emergency would be a good idea. For example: locking my keys in the apartment when both roommates were on holiday, a friend meeting up (often) an hour late, or a child not being at the bus stop where I should be picking them up. And it's on these occasions that being connected would be super handy (hehe... which, conveniently, is what the Germans most commonly say for cell phone: "Handy"). And the reason you need to know any of this? Because what's a Handy worth having if there isn't something to keep it warm and safe? Just another excuse to make something cheesy, right?


So there it is. My handy cozy in my favorite color and one gigantic old yellow-cream button. The whole button situation is a bit chunky, but I think I will keep it.

Miss Rogers Neighborhood

With the intent on sitting down to more productive projects I got totally sidetracked this evening by {this} rad site. Tilt Shift Maker takes your photos and, with a few clicks of the button, transforms them into miniature models reminiscent of Mister Rogers. Like I said, too much time was wasted on this site today, so click with care. I found some photos came out with better results than others. Be sure to check out their {gallery} and {flickr group} for some awesome examples. More photos and a few tips after the jump. To view any photo larger just click on it.



Shots with a good depth of field work better than shots with everything at the same distance. Despite this I think the above shot still works relatively well.


A scene works much better than a close-up shot of just one subject.


Taking a shot from above always works well because you get a lot of depth.