Look what Costco made!

Because a day without photos is like a day without oxygen.
I can't recall what this was- but it definetly involved coconut.

Gyaaah!

The photo I want to upload is "Staunch Character in a Sea of Leaves". But- due to reasons*, I didn't edit it at all. It's still the monster sized original, and it is uncropped. So, perhaps it's for the best that I can't upload it to Blogger. Or Flickr. Why is the internet being so mean to me today?
Anyway- Staunch Character in a Sea of Leaves. A portrait. Hopefully I'll have it up and ready to share really soon(you know, in a few days).
So instead, here's an older painting that has no name and sits atop our dresser, with the cat bank standing guard.
Things I keep replaying:

-"Unhand me, I'm just a lamb."
Sung to the tune of a Shins song ('untie me, I've set no bounds'-not the title, just the part it corresponds to) that I don't know the name of. Sung by Dan, while getting ready for work. He has a genius for twisting song lyrics into things that I find cute.

-My dream for last night where I can't decide whether to bring a Nikon D40 or the trusty D50 with me on a trip to an amusement park. ("The D40 is lighter...but it might not take as nice photos...The D50 is trustworthy, but so heavy...Aw, I never take that many photos in amusement parks anyway...) It went on and on and on.




*The new (to us)Legend of Zelda for Game Cube- 'The Twilight Princess'

Peeps on horseback! Baby creatures of all sorts!

Must visit Cute Overload! You'll have to scroll down a bit for the peeps. Amazing photos, and yes, they're cute. But they also have a bit of a wierdness factor to them that makes them fascinating.

Because it's lonely without pug photos here!

Topanga
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I'm already missing pug pressence here. So here's one from a series of many. More on Flickr!

More birds than usual

Sun birds
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Here's a new painting. I was thinking about the way light refracts through the leaves in trees when I was painting it. I like how when you sqint up through leaves, it all sort of blurs together into yellowy greeness. Yes. Easily amused.

Art heroes

Incongrous photo? Check. Has nothing to do with post? Yes. But I like it.

Because sometimes it is necessary to cook in pearls and high heels.
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

You know it when you see their work. Jaw drops to floor, pain in the chest because, oh, my gosh, the talent and you want to just weep when you think of your own work. Weak in the knees. But it speaks to you on some level, and somehow holds out a glimmer of hope that, hey, maybe someday, I’ll be good too. And in the meantime, you just enjoy what they’ve done.
So, here are a few of my art heroes-

Sara Varon- bringing together cuteness, occasional poignancy, and lovely drawings of chickens.

Emily Martin- Great paintings with a slightly dark air AND she runs a successful shop!

Danny Gregory- because he got me drawing again, and his book keeps me drawing

Rama Hughes- taking comic inspired art to fantastic new heights

Craig Thompson- taking comics to a new height- and oh, my gosh, the lines- swoon!


So I want to know- who are your art heroes, and why, if you can find some words. And please include a link, if at all possible.

Forgive me, for I feel a bad pun coming on...

You'll notice that there's no Daily Dog here today. Why? Because the Daily Dog portion of this site has moved to it's own page! I wanted to give the project it's own space to expand. So from now on, for a fix of Daily Dog cuteness, go to the Daily Dog Blog - dailydogphoto.blogspot.com .

(The bad pun-- I have a new 'pet' project. Ba dum cha!{Bad puns get cheesy drum sound effects, right?})

Away in a wooden shoe

Away in a wooden shoe
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I have this illusion on my days off that I can get everything done. I can do several paintings, and sew something, and the house will be clean, and we'll have something for dinner that's been cooked from scratch, and...The list goes on, and on and on. And every day off, I think that all these things can happen. And without fail, things get dropped becuase there are only so many hours in the day.
So, I bring you a painting of what didn't get dropped. It was inspired by my pet birds. Can anyone remember the way that nursery rhyme goes? Becuase I can only get to "Winken and Blinken and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe." Is that even how it goes?

Blue bird
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

This painting is availible in the shop now!

Daily dog 3.22.07

Soak up some sun

Annual Spring Freak Out

Blinken
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Spring is definitely my favorite time of year. But it's also one of a few times of the year when I realize that I am getting older, and that there's nothing I can do to stop the downhill skid. This is my special time of year to worry about mediocrity. And also, to eat Cadbury eggs. It's a good time of year.
So, in keeping with that, I have decided to take the reigns of my life ever more tightly in hand, and...make a 5 week grocery list plan. Is that exciting or what? It's actually phase one of a as yet unlimited phase plan of GETTING ON TRACK. Getting on track to where, I'm not really sure, but so help me I AM GETTING ON THAT TRACK. I also considered making a detailed list of everything that needs to be cleaned and or maintained in our home, and then to set up a schedule for cleaning and/or maintaining it, but by then my resolve started to weaken, and I realized that the house is clean enough, things are working well enough in that department. (My current plan- clean like a crazed neat freak, but only when people come to visit. It seems to work.)
{{{Eeep! Did I really just write all that about CLEANING and COOKING? ART BLOG, ART BLOG! Remember?}}}
Ahem.
Right.
Well.
*crickets*
So, we named the birds. The bird featured above is Blinken, due to his squeezing his eyes shut slightly more often than the other two. I'll let you guess the rest of the names.
Tomorrow's a painting day, so hopefully I'll have something fun to show you soon!

Shaking it off- Daily Dog 3.21.07

Shaking it off
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Secrets!

And now, for your information, I hereby link you to the In-N-Out Burger Secret Menu!
Admittedly, it's not a very well kept secret, but I hadn't even had a glimmer of an idea that things like this existed in the world untill literally moments ago.
The world, it's just...so vast...

Because everything's better with butter.

Around dinner time, you’re pretty likely to hear this in our house: “Add more butter this time.” “Yeah! We’ll Julia Child it.” You know what makes cheapola Trader Joe’s macaroni and cheese really great? About four tablespoons of butter and the addition of the shredded cheese of your choice. Also, you can use half and half instead of milk. Just adding those simple things can make a huge difference.
Great new discoveries in the land of saturated fat have been made by us. For instance, did you know you can put vanilla ice cream, frozen berries, tequila and Malibu rum in the blender and have the best milkshake ever? Also, you can do amazing things in the area of tuna melts.
Oh, the desserts that have been passing through our house- Rice Krispy treats, cheesecake, fudge, ice cream, homemade cookies…The constant flow of sugar never stopped.
There were bags of Kettle Chips from Costco, consumed in front of a new Netflix, chased by M & Ms. Also- I have rediscovered the Cadbury Egg. Also, Cadbury Mini Eggs.
Some friends turned us on to a burger joint that can make any of their phenomenal burgers with a quite decent veggie burger instead. Our mutual favorite is one that involves tiny strings of deep fried onions, pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, some manner of pepper rub, and a really nice aioli. Their fries are also great. And they serve really nice blended drinks.
We feared nothing deep fried. Cheese was our friend. Butter, even closer to our hearts- more like a sibling.
And meanwhile, our pants continued to shrink.
Now, it is spring. The warmth is causing us to have to peel off layers. And we have found much pale flab, and also, that it is not the dryer’s fault. After weighing ourselves, just out of curiosity, Dan breathed a sight of relief. “Well, at least it’s not a problem with the dryer. I thought it was shrinking my pants.”
No, the dryer is only wrinkling his pants.
Thus the cutting back and avoiding all things deep fried begins. That’s right, we’re going to the light side. It’s better than buying new pants.

A wee painting of wee birds

A wee painting of wee birds
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I feel some paintings coming on...
I watched Grey Gardens for the first time this weekend. This movie makes my head just throb with new ideas! I'm really eager to get back into the studio.
This particualr painting is actually on a canvas. It's 6" x 6", which is a really nice size to work with. I can't wait to work with my new stock of them when I have more time.

Daily dog- 3.19.07

Hi boss!
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Hi Boss!

Waiting.

This is a test. how much can i write with just a cell phone before i either die of boredom or he comes out of there? or maybe i'll just run out of space. this is being simulcast on my blog and flickr. feel my pain, internet!i am petulant so you'll all suffer!

Daily dog - Lounge act

Lounge act
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Grand opening of the Absolutely Small Etsy shop!

I finally got the shop up!! I've been working on chickens, as you know. But also- bracelets. Lots and lots of bracelets. When I get started with beads, it's difficult to stop. Expect to see earrings soon. Also, there are handpainted notecards. Of a chicken, wearing heels and a pillbox hat. How can you resist?Come and see!

Daily dog

Daily dog
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

3.15.07

A peek inside the chicken factory

To commemorate getting the studio organized, I took some photos of it. Because who know when it will look this good again. Sadly, I got the urge to do this at night, so the photos feature dark windows. Oh well.

Some of the toys on the windowsill
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Some of the toys on my windowsill.

The art room
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

A view of my desk and a few storage units. Those piles on the shelf are my wee fabric stash. And even though I just got it all clean, there's already a project laid out.

Jury-rigged shelf
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Here's a shot of the jury-rigged shelf I put together from broken bi-fold doors in a fit of organizational desperation. Someday, I'll get some pretty shelves in here, but for the meantime, ANYTHING will do!

As always, there are more shots of this series on Flickr.

Daily dog- 3/14/07

Leaping out of the crafting mess on the coffee table- it's Topanga!

This was supposed to have made it to the blog yesterday...

A photo of the Japanese curry I was cooking. "We're on the very edge of vegetarianism!" Oh, I was witty as I cooked the dubious curry. "An update of what we eat before we've even eaten it! Fantastic!" Yesterday was a very productive, blurry day. These things happen.
Anyway, the curry turned out surprisingly good for something out of a box. Japanese curry is sort of hit and miss...But then, we're sort of curry snobs. Don't get me started on curry powder. You will find yourself at the wrong end of a lecture about authenticity and the diversity among Indian curries and blah blah blah.
Soon, there will be more photos of new creations up. (cats have been made) And soon, the Etsy shop will be up. I am inching towards it as we speak...ever so cautiously, so as not to scare it off...(it would probably be up already but for a looong nap that simply had to be taken yesterday, so as not to die.)
Meanwhile, enjoy the low-res photo of the box the curry came out of, directly below this post. If you're going to cook Japanese curry out of a box, I recommend this kind. Has that medium-authentic o.k. Japanese restaurant taste. Please note, 'medium hot' apparently means nothing. It's not even a little hot. You'll need to add your own favorite spiciness medium.

From a box

When I buy a chandelier, this will be it.

The artist Yaya Chou brings you theGummi Bear Chandelier!!!! Part of a series...there's also a gummi bear skin rug.
On her blog, she describes the hardiness of said medium. Sounds like they're pretty stable. More things should definelty be constructed out of gummi bears...I've always wondered how they'd look if you melted them, swirled the colors together...would they harden back up and have that same texture?
May need to buy some gummis to experiment with. Also, eat.

Cheating?

Hand sized softies
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I made these from a pattern. Someone else's pattern. *gasp!!* Actually, a tutorial. A free tutorial.(Thanks My Little Mochi!)
This is the first time I've ever sewn someone else's design. And even though I don't intend to sell them or profit by them, it still feels like cheating somehow. It wasn't my design. It doesn't count. Although they turned out nothing like the pattern...(I like to have my media 'contribute' to the finished piece, giving me that bit of the unexpected, the random.) Hrm. But, I definitely feel like I learned some things, some tricks to make this whole process a little easier. But, it doesn't really feel like art. (Because I copied!!! Someone else's design!!! Eep!{*grown up voice* That is what is known as a PATTERN.})
Oh, don't mind me, this is just the leftovers of a stressed out weekend!
At least tell me they turned out cute.

Daily dog-3/12/07

You're taking my photo again?
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Is it spring yet?

Something to keep my kitchen frosting coated

I still can't bake worth the flour and eggs and...stuff that goes into what I bake, but I found the Cupcake Blog...and, oh! Let me wax poetic about cupcakes for a spell-
CUPCAKES- THE PERFECT DESSERT
They're just the right size. Or, you know, you could have two, becuase they are just so small and cute. They're way better looking than most cakes. They seem to turn out better, and they make people smile more. Nobody gets intimidated by a cupcake. Cupcakes are fun. "Oh boy, cupcakes!" How many times have you heard that? You can decorate them, and becuase they're small, this seems more do-able. Man, I love cupcakes.
This week's baking-ish project wasn't actually baking at all. And I don't actually have week by week baking assignments, because that would involve sticking to a routine. Right. Well, anyway, I made rice krispy treats for the first time since middle school. I found an unopened, recently-ish purchased bag of mini marshmellows in with some art supplies, and it really seemed like a good idea. Of course, you will need to use margarine, which will shave five years off your life and slam your arteries right shut, but such a threat has never stopped me before. (I wound up using some manner of non-hydrogenated vegtable oil margarine like substance, which smelled foul but worked just fine.)
So, long ramble short, they turned out quite well, people liked them, and marshmellow is sticky.

Daily dog 3/9/07

Faster than a speeding tounge!

The blackout you've been waiting for.

Just bucks- telling it like it is.

New place to play

Watashi to Tokyo has great and timely Japanese news posts. Things like The Chimpanzee News Channel and links to important things you need to know about, like this Darth Vader kabuto doll.
It's good to know that someone is looking out for the news that's interesting(and strange).

Spring! Stuff!

The trees are blooming out, the daffodils are up. As far as I'm concerned, it's spring. I love spring. La la la.
So, here's what I'm working on:
AN ARMY OF CHICKENS
More than a seven chicken army These are all made from handmade pom poms (my hands, thank you so much), felt & beads. See more photos on Flickr

Beads!!
Can't stay away from the beads lately.

One Stuffed Pug
This is a prototype- the first one completed from a pattern I made. It still needs some tweaking.

Some of these things might find their way into the shop very soon...They're sort of taking over the studio- it's time for them to find new homes!

Real pug toy- Daily dog 3/7/07

Real pug toy
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

How to make a chocolate Dalek

Extermination by chocolate.
Brilliant! Looks tremendously involved. Looks like a lot could go wrong (if I'm the one wielding the chocoalte, anyway). I think i'll decide to be satisfied by just the photos and ideas this time (and not thrash the kitchen and budget attemtping to recreate this).
Wow. I really am growing up.

New pets!

Our finches
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

And you can bet they'll be showing up in paintings soon. They are Society Finches (seems like it should be capitalized, don't you think?) but I think I may call them my D.A.R. Finches because I watch too much Gilmore Girls for my own good and I'll do just about anything for a lame joke.
These birds are so sweet. The make the most charming little noises. I love watching them. I just can't get over how low maintenance they are. The only other pet we've had in a long time is a very, very high maintenance, in your face kind of dog. These birds are happy just to be. And to be fed & watered & cleaned up after. And the occasional treat. Oh yeah, and special small bird gravel.
Still no names for these wee ones, but I'm working on it.
Special thanks to Curt, who made it all possible! Many, many more photos can be found on my Flickr site.

wag- daily dog 3.5.07

wag
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Six Weird Things

I’ve been tagged by June, so now it’s my turn. My first reaction was “Only six?” But it turns out I’m really not that weird.
RULES: People who get tagged need to write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names.
So, here are my six of my wierd things:
1. I am almost a superhero in that I have electrical powers. I can shock people (and plants, and mailboxes, etc.) very, very easily. This happened to me all the time, and so I’ve picked up the habit of not closing car doors with my hands-I kick them with my shoes. I also don’t open doors for myself if anyone else is nearby. I can also get shocked from touching things that should not conduct electricity- plants, wood, leather. And wearing leather gloves does not help the problem- shocks come right through. Now, if only I could harness this power…
2. I’m not often in harm’s way, but I have an extraordinary ability to accrue cuts and bruises all over my extremities. Just from random things. I also walk into things a lot.
3. I really enjoy reading biographies of crazy people. The more peculiar, the better.
4. I have a thing for old homes and abandoned buildings. Nothing is more exciting than exploring crumbling architecture. I like the old house smell (mold and cold and a dash of ‘what is that?’). I don’t have a reason for this.
5. Meat freaks me out. I can’t stand the texture, and the taste doesn’t do anything for me either. So I’ve been vegetarian basically since I knew this was an option. However, whenever the opportunity pops up, I’ll try weird meats. It generally repulses me, but I can’t help it. The only meats which don’t freak me out are bacon and tuna (from cans)- they’re also the only ones which I like the taste of. When you think about it, these should freak out everyone- meat in a can can’t be good, and it doesn’t taste like fish…and bacon- it’s meat and sugar in one- that shouldn’t work! Oh, but it does…
6. I need sun. No, really- I need sun. I think I’m part plant. When the sun is out, everything’s good- tons of energy, I’m happy, life works. When the sun is gone, I get really, really depressed (worse than usual- the pills stop working), I have no energy, I pick fights and generally just want to die. Also, I get very dizzy and very tired when the weather changes. Even just slight changes can bring this on, but it’s worst when the seasons change.

Maybe I am that weird, after all. I pass the tag on to Kate, Amy, Another Amy, Mary, Alex (who complains about not having enough content, this will teach him), and Andrea. You can all throw things at me later.

Daily dog 3.5.07

Daily dog 3.3.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I sent this on Saturday. Really, I did!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! (Keep on a'squeelin')

Look at me! Look at me! Look, it's me!
Ahem. Um. No. I mean. You know it doesn't take more that an eyebrow raise in my direction to make me happy (the good kind of eyebrow raise. The kind that says, 'Hey, who are you? I should Know You.' Not the other kind that says 'Who are you? What's wrong with you?').
Not that this is an eyebrow raise of any sort. My figure of speach really got away from me there.
So...what was I...?
YES! On this here post, for the SOFTIE AWARDS, I am the first one there. Woo! And it's not even a search, but a POST- someone (fine and foxy, no doubt, with excellent taste) had to notice ME, I mean MY CHICKEN. Out of hundreds! It's not an award or anything, but hey, someone LOOKED at one of my creations! Wow!
I know it's really not much, but it makes me happy! Thank you Softie Awards Lady! Or Gentleman!

One good idea courtesy of One Good Bumblebee

Whimsy in a jar.
Jars of Whimsy.
Finally, an excuse to buy all that great ransom stuff at junk shops and flea markets that you have no idea what to do with, but, oh, it just looks so neat! See, One Good Bumblebee found an angle. You can too! Or you know, just buy one of the way cool jars. I am accepting these as gifts now.

Jack- snow devil. Daily Dog 3.02

Jack- snow devil
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Not a pug today! Viva diversity!

ellen and the brave new chicken

ellen and the brave new chicken
Originally uploaded by Amy Rice.

Today, I feel like a brave new chicken. I have always been a chicken. Chickeny chick chick chicken when it comes to sharing my work. But I am actively trying to change that now. I sent out some emails about sharing my work, and they came back. People actually replied! And they weren't even laughing hysterically! I don't want to spill any details yet, becuase, you know...things fall apart sometimes.
But anyway, I saw this great painting in theFlickr group I started, Chicken Art, and it just seemed completley apropos. It's by Amy Rice, and she makes many other fantastic paintings.
Today, I am that brave new chicken. Big wings, not really soaring, but, you know, I can jump to the top of the fence, no problem. Woo! I mean, Cluck!

Daily dog? Why sure!