semi-sweet (new) home, Vallejo

I have been living in Vallejo, California since January 2009 and have been making observations the entire time. All I knew about Vallejo as a teenager growing up in the South [San Francisco] Bay Area was that rapper E-40 was from there. I remember hearing about the history-making city mayoral race of 2007, when there was a dead tie between Vice Mayor Gary Cloutier and former Solano County Supervisor Osby Davis, who each received 5,158votes. I remember when, a year ago today, the city of Vallejo declared bankruptcy.

In my first week of residence, I noticed a few trends: Donut shops, tattoo parlors, discount stores (off the "99-cent store" variety) and most of all, the almighty Taco Truck, as a dining destination. I wonder if taco trucks (or "roach coaches" as I used to call them before they became my main source of burrito) are present in metro areas all over the country. I wonder if there are other cities where a taco truck ranks as the #9 restaurant on Yelp with a 4 1/2 star rating and 8 reviews. In Vallejo, the taco trucks are somewhat permanent fixtures - in that they each inhabit their same lot every day and some even have permanent picnic tables that stay where they are long after the trucks leave for the night.


I like to think that Vallejo figured out along the way that taco trucks work for it and its residents. That what these companies save by not-offering restrooms or indoor seating, is made up for with quality Mexican food at a price the people of Vallejo can afford (where else can you get an AWESOME burrito for $5 these days?) That these taco trucks are a form of innovation and creativity, and not, in reality, just one of the last-standing options for people who want to take a night, or every night, off from cooking. And I can get away with thinking this way because there are so many more examples of creativity, innovation, and "wha-choo-lookin-at?" personality on the streets of Vallejo...


The houses in the heritage district of Vallejo are an odd mix of elegant beauties and boarded up or fire-damaged ugly ducklings (that only need some love). Here are few of my favorite houses...





The pink gargoyles alone make the house below one of my faves.




Then there is the lawn art, and the other things people put outside their houses that really make them pop. While making the neighborhood rounds with Bama, I not infrequently come across a "Porch Sale" which is exactly what it sounds like: The porch-version of the garage or yard sale. Which is all the space you need to accommodate the things you found during a weekend's worth of spring cleaning, I guess. Below is something I can only call "lawn art" although it looks really scary from far away. As you get closer, it seems more weird (once you realize it is not a real person, nor are any of its parts from a real person or animal), and when you are standing in front of it, it becomes funny and you realize its creator has a sense of humor.




Well, that's the intro to all that's creative and weird in Vallejo. Stay tuned for some more artsy crafty examples of why Vallejo rules even though it has no money.

International Quilt Market Spring 2009: Blog Round-Up

Quilt Market Spring 2009 has been on my radar for the past year through my job at C&T Publishing. My Quilt Market to-do list started quite small, but gradually gained momentum as the weeks and months went by. About a month ago, it was hard to find anything on my comprehensive to-do list that wasn't Quilt Market related. Actually that's a lie. There have been plenty of other items on my master to-do list but the Quilt Market tasks all joined forces and ran those other items over with the strength (and noise) I'd imagine were they a herd of buffalo.

Since I started at C&T in fall 2005, I have been a staple at Quilt Market. I manage all the prep from the authors' events to the booth design to making sure there was always a nice tin of altoids in the office supplies drawer unit. Our crate, Big Boy, and I have a very close relationship - I have definitely had more conversations inside and around "him" than at the water cooler in the office kitchen. He can be problematic. For instance, this picture was taken about the time we realized he was just a squidge too tall for the truck that had come to pick him up.

Anyway, this show, Quilt Market Spring 2009 in Pittsburgh, is the first Quilt Market show I haven't attended since I started at C&T Publishing . As you can imagine, I've been an eager recipient of any and all Quilt Market news since the show opened this past Friday. So here's a quick round-up of blog posts from the show.

The Julie's Adventures at Quilt Market Blog has a fantastic account of the show that spans several days in as many posts. Stay tuned for a show review from her, but in the meantime, check out Welcome to Spring Quilt Market 2009 and Market Day 2.

Checker Distributors Newsletter In the archive for the 2009 Spring Quilt Market category (yes, this one show is a whole category on the Checker online newsletter/ blog site), there is a great post from the event with loads of photos: It's Never Just Another Day at Market...

Fabric designer Genevieve Gail has a two-part series of Quilt Market posts on her blog. Part 1 has some great pics of her section of the Wyndham Fabrics booth and Part 2 talks about some of the highlights.

Quilt historian and author Barbara Brackman also posted a two-part mini series on the show. Here's Quilt Market in Pittsburgh and Quilt Market in Pittsburgh 2. She includes a great shot that's an aerial view of a portion of the exhibit hall.

Amy Marson, the Publisher at C&T Publishing also posted twice from the show: In Posting from Pittsburgh... Amy highlights the inspiring Pittsburgh city architecture and in Quilt Market Day 2, she picks out some exciting new products she found on the show floor.

That's all for now. Can't wait to hear more details about the show, as I surely will in the next few days as the tired Quilt Market warriors return home, get rested, and start formulating opinions...stay tuned.

C&T Publishing Author Blog Round Up

For those of you who aren't yet in the know, C&T Publishing authors are big in the blogosphere. Here's a little bit about some of our blogger authors and links to some of the gems they've recently posted to their blogs:

Laura West Kong is the author of Fast, Fun & Easy^® Fabric Cover-Button Jewelry, a September 2009 release. She designs quilt patterns and fiber art, but has dabbled in many other crafts as well– she even made chili pepper piñatas for Cinco de Mayo! Check out this great Sew-n-Go tip she recently posted to her blog, Adventures of a Quilting Diva. I knew there had to be a use for empty dental floss containers!

Terrie Sandelin, author of Miniatures in Minutes, is the queen of miniature quilts. She just posted a great new project that uses the Pyramid Triangle foundation from Miniatures in Minutes to her website— scroll to the bottom of her Projects page to download the instructions for making the below Stacked Diamonds miniature quilt. Isn't it pretty? Also, I love this recent post on her blog, Bits and Pieces, which offers up a bunch of great uses for your completed mini quilts. Apparently these little guys are addicting!

Rayna Gillman, author of Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth, is a mother and a professional artist who teaches surface design all over the U.S. This recent post on her blog Studio 78 Notes shows some fantastic work by students she challenged with a piece of pink fabric. Challenge really can be the mother of inspiration and creativity...

Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins (otherwise known as Piece O' Cake Designs) have a new book, Appliqué Outside the Lines coming out with C&T this July, bringing the number of POC books in C&T's current catalog to a whopping 10. I love their garden-inspired quilt designs, patterns, and fabrics and they frequently post great content to the Piece O'Cake blog as well as their website, such as The easy way to hang a quilt and projects Wedding Birds and Cupcake Stand.

You can see the full list of C&T author bloggers here on the C&T Blog Links page. On every author blog you'll find some outstanding examples of their work— happy exploring!

new at spazmade: tree bird scrapbook

I just added the tree bird scrapbook I made to SpazMade, my Etsy shop. This is the front cover...


and these are 3 out of 4 inside spreads...








And the back cover...




This project took me quite some time. I started out with a 10" x 10" Ready-to-Go! Blank Board Book and painted each page with acrylic paint. I then sanded the pages with a very fine sand paper, so as not to distress the pages, just even out the coverage and blend in any brushstrokes. I cut pieces of cardstock in complimentary colors to size and glued them into each right hand (or odd-numbered) page. Next I added a variety of nature-themed Hambly rub-ons - birds, trees, and simple shapes.

I am tempted to add a coat of mod-podge to each page as a finisher/ sealant so as to prevent scratches or other forms of damage. But I'm afraid that will make the pages more difficult to write on, should a buyer want to journal their photo captions or notes. So I'll be experimenting with writing on some sample mod-podge sealed pages and I'll update the description on the project page if needed. I can't wait to do more like this - I really enjoyed the process and am happy with the result. Yay!

4 ways to have fun crafting on the cheap

These days it's hard to justify an impromptu spending rampage in jo-ann or your favorite local quilt or scrap supply shop. Some of us can't even justify spending the gas it takes to get you there. As much as our local, independent craft suppliers need our support right now, we are limiting our purchases to the essential items we need to complete a specific project, instead of stocking up on fabric and papers we like but have no plan to use in the near future.

When I imposed strict limits on my spending earlier this year, it wasn't with a happy face. But then I started thinking like a creative person should, and not only discovered a *silver lining* to my situation of limited means, but craftily came up with some new ways I could get my hands on the craft materials I need...

1. perform an inventory of your craft materials
This includes everything else in your craft room that is a consumable. While you're at it, extend your inventory to the rest of the house especially the storage closets. When you find an item you don't use anymore ask yourself if it could become a craft supply. If you see potential, take it into your craft room. Congratulate yourself for doing some spring cleaning and then attack the next storage closet. When your inventory is finalized search for craft projects that have your specific items on the supply list. Or get creative and invent your own!

2. organize a craft supply swap with your crafty buddies
Once you've performed your inventory you'll see that you aren't really inspired to use certain pieces in your paper, fabric, or embellishment stashes. Odds are, your crafting buddies are in the same situation. Summon them over for a fun-filled Saturday of swapping! Ask each participant to bring a grocery bag full of unwanted items to add to the group pool. Dump everyone's unwanteds in a pile on the floor then take turns picking a few items each. When everyone has had their fill, donate the dogs and send everyone home happy with their new loot.

3. Make a quilt from thrift store fabrics
Test your creativity and challenge your attitude. Dare to ask yourself the question, "who says you can only use 100% cotton?" Once inside your local thrift store start your search in the area with bedding and other linens. Can only find uglies? Get them anyway and then mentally prepare for putting your quilt design skills to the test. You will emerge from the challenge a stronger quilter and I guarantee the quilt will hold a special place in your heart. While at the thrift store, look for other items you can upcycle!

4. Make ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) and join a swap.
ATCs can be made from your leftover paper, cardstock, fiber, and jewelry-making remnants, as well as paints, stamps, and almost everything else. These projects are small investments of time and materials. So free yourself from convention and see what comes of it. Swap the ones you like with your craft buddies or add your contact info to the cards, stick them in your purse, and give them to new friends and contacts you meet.

The *Silver Lining*
Why do you think craft challenges are so popular? Because the establishment of parameters or limits regarding supplies or themes around a craft project isn't really a loss of freedom at all. When you don't have the brand new fabrics you've been ogling online, or the fantastic papers that are hot off the press, and are limited to your stash in your quest to make new, cool, fresh, inspiring pieces, you'll find that you CAN. Your creativity steps in and makes up the difference. You grow as an artist and its very likely your finished projects will have some unseen thing the last project you made from brand new, hand-picked materials didn't quite have as much of. That unseen thing is soul.

15-minute gift project for Mom

Mother's Day is tomorrow so you may wonder why I am bothering to post a Mother's Day gift project at the eleventh hour. There's three reasons this post still makes sense:

#1 I know there are others like me out there who aren't quite satisfied with what they've done, bought, or made so far for mom

#2 Late is better than never and this project only takes 15 minutes from beginning to completion - even if you don't pull it off in time for Mother's Day you should mail it to her on Monday - she'll love getting a surprise in the mail later in the week.

#3 Although I am showing off what I made for my mom, this gift will work for almost anyone (think Father's Day is just around the corner). Really, who doesn't like trees?

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The Project: Nature-themed Card-keeper with Cards and Envelopes


Supplies:

(1) Ready-to-Go! Blank Board Book Card Keeper from C&T Publishing. Don't have this product in your stash but want to give the project to mom today? Skip the card keeper and just bundle the cards with a pretty ribbon and present to mom that way. (Then buy a card keeper for your stash for your next gifting emergency.)

(1-3) sheets Mod Trees or Mod Flowers rub-ons from Hambly Screen Prints. Don't have these either? then use any appropriate rub-on in your stash and make the most out of them by keeping your design minimal!

(10) sheets cardstock in colors of your choice from your favorite manufacturer

(1) popsicle stick for applying the rub-ons

(1) spoon or other pressing tool for making a nice crease in the cardstock



Instructions:

#1 Cut your cardstock into 6.5" x 9.5" pieces

#2 Fold each piece of cut cardstock into a card 4.75" x 6.5"

#3 Choose your rub-ons and get to rubbing a nice design on each card cover. Sparingly add rub-ons to the insides of the cards and the envelopes. Keep it simple!

#4 Add some rub-ons to the outside of the card keeper itself. I added a rub-on to the outside of the clear window, as well as a few on the back side of the card keeper.

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That's it! By keeping it simple, you end up with a versatile set of notecards that have a really casual feel. These can be used by your mom (or your dad) as thank you cards, hello cards, thinking of you cards, and gift cards. And you finished in 15 minutes, right?

how I know your kids are easier to raise than my dog

My dog Alabama is just as much of a commitment as your child and whoever said dog rearing is practice for child raising definitely never met her. The reason I can say with such conviction that being Bama's owner is no easier of a job than being your kid's parent, is because all it takes is a Bama-story or two and even my friends that are parents are agreeing with me on this one. Hear me out and then let me know if you think I might be right about this, or if you think I need to get a hobby and stop paying so much attention to my dog...


Alabama = half coonhound + half pit bull Alabama was bred for hunting wild boar. Coonhounds hunt by chasing their target - which can be anything from a raccoon to a bear- up are tree and keeping them there until someone shoots the animal down. Wild boar on the other hand tend to meet their aggressors head on which is why the boar hunting hobbyist I got Bama from armed her with the physical power, agility, and unshakable willingness that's characteristic of the pit bull. I very clearly remember the highly amused expression he wore when he realized my intention was to keep her as a pet. "I don't got no sissy dogs," he said.

2. The Worrisome Factor To a parent it is often a very real worry that one day their child may start snorting cocaine. But wouldn't it be even more disturbing if you found your child had snorted something strange, like a foxtail for instance? Alabama snorts foxtails up her nose like nobody's business. There were two separate instances of foxtail snorting in her first year alone. And you think cocaine is dangerous... Get this: If left untreated an ingested foxtail burrows through flesh and brains, sometimes resulting in death. Now that's a nasty habit. And with the vet bills that resulted from the foxtail incidents, cocaine is actually sounding like a cheap habit. And at least drugs aren't growing absolutely everywhere you like 9 months out of the year. Bama has to wear a muzzle this season - not because she bites but because I have to keep her from snorting foxtails.



The Respect Factor Some Sunday mornings I will take Bama in the car with me to the best donut shop in my city and hand pick some lovelies to surprise E with. Do any of you ever take such a trip with your child? When you decide to run into the supermarket for a gallon of milk on your way home from the donut shop, do you come back to find lemon filling smeared on your seat, powdered sugar everywhere, zero donuts, and a very guilty looking child? I didn't think so. And I doubt a week later the same exact thing happens to you again except it is a jalepeno and cream cheese stuffed loaf from the mexican bakery.


The Expensive Factor You think your kids are expensive don't you? Well I bet you can make budget-conscious decisions when it comes to their meals, can't you? I bet you can choose not to feed them the financial equivalent of Beluga caviar at each meal. I have tried every kind of dog food out there and the only food Bama can eat costs $65 per 40lb bag. In comparison: a 40 lb bag of Costco dog food is $15. And you can get it at Costco. You don't have to get it from the vet's office. The expense of Bama's food really starts to get on my nerves so sometimes I try to cheat and mix in some other food that is also of high quality but a little less hard on my cash flow. I'll spare you the details, but I always regret doing this.

With Bama I have a new story to tell every day even though the only stories worth telling about Bama are the ones that involve some sort of bad behavior or problem. If I instead talked about playing catch with her and bragged about how high she can jump and catch the frisbee, my friends would be bored. I'm so glad she's not a sissy dog.

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