The Daily Photo Project...DONE!

I can't believe it...I stuck with something difficult for a whole year!
Sure, I didn't do it perfectly. Out of the 365 photos I should have taken, I took 267. Whoops. And apropos of the whole year of photos, I'm posting this recap a bit late.
I can't believe just how challenging this project was. It was kind of a burden, honestly. I think because I was already engaged in so many other creative outlets- this was kind of like the straw that weighed the camel down, if not broke her back.
Anyway- here's the last photo: 5/8/08:
(it's so grubby looking because it's a photo of the aftermath of a small kitchen fire)

Daily Photo 05.08.08 - THE END!!!
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

And the very first daily photo: 5/08/07:

Tall wedges- 1st Daily Photo- 5.08.07
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

On the other hand, I still think it's a great idea to take a photo a day. It's kind of neat to be able to actually look back at your year, day by day.
Although I won't be doing this again, and I'm relieved that it's over, I'm discovering a kind of hole in my day. Every so often I think, aha! Here's my daily photo for the day! And then I remember: this project is over. And the photo does not get taken, and doesn't get posted... So I miss my little excuse to post random things to the internet. Oh well, there's still Twitter.
If you haven't personally tried something like this, I actually do recommend it. For awhile I was tinkering with the idea of doing a post it note a day, or a drawing a day, a painting a day... I'm sure you could come up with some fun variations on your own! The point is just to creatively challenge yourself- that's always rewarding. So start something big today...you never know where it might lead!
If you are so inclined, you can check out the whole batch here.

Brave New

Daily Photo 12.31.07
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

I've been putting off writing a post because I have too many ideas. Once I start tackling one, another one crashes into it.
Oh well.
I'm looking forward to this year- I think it's going to be a really good one! I have some good things in the works, and it looks like there are some decently large changes around the bend. I do love big change.
Looking back at this year, I think: Hey, alright! I started a business. I tried a lot of new things. I started to really hone my creative voice.
Of course, I can also point to a lot of things I did wrong and would certainly like to change.
*insert a shrug here*
That's how we grow.
I hope you're all in a satisfied state, and looking forward hopefully. I keep thinking of this expression I hear in Japanese movies: "Ganbaru kudasai". It means "Please do your best!", and it gets applied to a lot of different situations, generally mundane. But the sentiment is so nice- so please, do your best. I will, too.

Lumps of Mystery

Time for another freak-out visit to the vet! Topanga has developed some sort of hard lump in her right hip. It's utterly confounded the vet. "It's not like a regular tumor- those don't usually hurt." Ergh. I'm trying to not freak out too much, but that is hard. "IT IS PROBABLY NOTHING." That is what the rational part of my brain is saying, very loudly. Loudly doesn't mean authoritatively, though.
Some thrilling life I lead, huh?
Er, what I meant to say was: after my day job of super top secret espionage, writing, painting, and sewing, I went hunting for some elves. I caught a pixie instead, and what a headache that was! Then I ate an entire pie, and saved an entire burrow of bunnies from ravenous wolves.
Well, at least the pie part is accurate. Sort of.

The Daily Photo Project Marches On! Celebrating 100 photos!!

Last night, I posted what turned out to be the 100th Daily Photo! Hooray! That's almost a THIRD of a year. Sort of a big deal for me. It has been very tricky...sticking with a daily type project, remembering to actually do the daily type project... It's getting done, but very imperfectly. The part of that last sentance I am focusing on is the "it's getting done" part. There are ups and downs- parts where it ceases being fun, and other parts where it suddenly is fun again. It's good to know that it can swing back around like that! Here are a few picks from the last week:

Daily photo 8.27.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget

This one's from yesterday. A brand new softie in a koala track suit perches on my ancient sewing machine.

Daily Photo? 8.26.07 A
Originally uploaded by chicken widget

I couldn't choose which one of these would be the Daily Photo, so I just had A and B parts. (It's not her dinner- it's her treat jar. And yes, she got a treat immediatley after I shot the photo.)

Daily Photo? 8.26.07 B
Originally uploaded by chicken widget

As always, click on the pictures to see a larger version.
p.s.: Softies Central featured my Sammy in San Francisco photo!

Bits. Also, bobs.

Here's a little peek at what yesterday was like:

Daily Photo 8.22.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

(click to see a larger version)
I tried something new-ish: painting on little blocks chopped from 2 x 4s. Super cute robots seemed like the best subject matter.
Here's a close up on the Chick Bot block.

Chick Bot
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Manic/ Depressive bracelet set
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

And, here's something I made a few weeks ago but am only getting around to photographing now: Mental Disorder Bracelets. This is the only one I intended to sell as a 'set'. Other bracelets: OCD, Germaphobe, Paranoid, Procrastinator...Once you get started, it's quite difficult to stop making them. This is my last stab at making jewelry (at least for now).

A tale of two desks

Daily Photo 8.10.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

This is part of my day job desk. Clear of clutter, distractions, work, life.
If you scroll to the post immediately below this one, you'll see my home desk. (well, one of them) Full of clutter, distractions, work, life.
This is my life.

Daily...

Pug pathos #3
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

An extra from a Daily Photo shoot

Well, sort of.
Daily anything is difficult for me. I keep forgeting to take daily photos- and when I do manage to take them, I often forget to post them on time. So if you look through my photostream on Flickr, you'll see them in a very wonky order.
But the idea of daily habits is fascinating to me, and I keep thinking how great it would be if I could actually keep up with some of them. So I keep on trying...and generally just keep on stumbling, falling off the wagon, running after the wagon, kicking the wagon when it breaks, etc.

Playing catch up

(A photo recap of the past few days)


Jack Sparrow impersonator!!
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

We went to a party on Saturday. I detest parties, but Jack Sparrow was there, so that was nice.


The crane tree
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Then I finally put all those cranes I've been making to good use: I made a crane tree. It almost reaches the ceiling.


Hello.
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Then it was time to create some creatures. Here's a peek of one of them.


Embracing the blur, this time.
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Finally, here's Topanga's interpretation of the craziness that was this past week. And probably also the weeks to come.
Many, many more new photos on Flickr!

What, no new artwork today?

Daily Photo 6.20.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

You can read the whole whiny reason for that by clicking on the photo.
Having my pup in pain really stresses me out. (Also the vet bills. They stress me out, too. Buy a painting or twenty, won't you?)
Whine, whine whine.
p.s.: Topanga is doing much better now!

Daily photo-day 2

5.9.07-
the day the car threw a hissy fit.

Tuesday's shoes- Giant wedges

The uber-pinchy Steve Madden again. Honestly, he has a problem. And so do I, for continuing to buy them. Something about the price and the design intersect magically and I am left helpless, buying yet another pair.
****UPDATE****
This photo turned into my first Daily Photo on 5/8/07. Yes, I started the daily photo thing on a Tuesday.