Day #3

Day 3 and I'm still on track. My third accessory is an iPod case made from fulled wool from a failed sweater attempt and the free pattern from LarkCraft's Doodle Stitch Along. I added snaps & a belt loop. I'm contemplating a button, but I don't know. My interfacing is still caught up in the embroidery, but it's water soluble so I'll wash it out tonight.

I managed to get this relatively time consuming project done thanks to the snowpocalypse that landed on Birmingham. Granted, compared to winters in MA it's nothing, but an inch of mixed snow and sleet around here pretty much paralyzes the city. Alabama just isn't equipped to deal with icy roads. So, I got to stay home today and play with my toys. I did pop out for some brisk exercise consisting of shoveling my driveway. That was... fun.
I picked up Dad's dogs on Friday. So far they're getting along with my animals pretty well. Daphne has some joint problems and Tango has a skin condition, but they're sweet animals. They're both on diets now, which should help with all their problems. They each had (in their own way) hard lives before coming to live with Dad, so he pretty much let them eat whatever/whenever they wanted.

This is Tango. She lived with a lady who had over 20 dogs. They were all adequately housed/fed/cleaned, but with that many they couldn't get the amount of attention that they needed. So Tango is clingier than kudzu. If you call any other animal's name she'll show up. If one of the other animals is 2 feet from me she has to be 1 foot away. She'll sit on top of Daphne to make sure that she's closer. Right now she's got irritated skin, but we're going to the vet Friday to get it checked out.

Daphne was a Hurricane Katrina rescue. She's about 8 now. She moves slowly and she's got some balance & joint issues, but she's a trooper. If you take them out without leashes Tango will stick close, but Daphne will lumber off much faster than you'd expect. She's a pretty quiet dog most of the time.
They're both sweethearts. Although, between the two of them and Ilsa, I've got to say, the bed is getting very crowded at night. I'm waiting for the morning I wake up with the three of them on the mattress and me on the floor in their dog bed. At least it's a big dog bed.

Accessories #2

Two blog posts in 1 day? The world may be ending. The ice storm coming down outside certainly seems to agree with that.
But, this blog is to announce that for the second day in a row... I have made something! I did indeed finish the first of the fingerless gloves I'm making for Benji.
As I said before, the yarn & the pattern both came from Knitpicks.
This will be the third pair of fingerless gloves I've made recently. The other two pairs came from the Kitchen Sink Dyeworks Badass Women's Yarn Club pattern for December. This is the best club I've ever been in. I get awesome custom yarn & patterns and each month part of my fee goes to an awesome charity. December's Badass was Kris Crawford who works to end dog fighting and to educate inner city kids on dog safety with all breeds, but also to teach them to respect the dogs.
I haven't seen a Badass Woman that I'm not proud of, but Kris's organization is especially exciting for me since my boss's son has recently adopted a female pit bull that was used for baiting in dog fights. He's named her Emma and she's super sweet. When he first found her she was hiding under his truck and in pretty rough shape. She's doing really well now and making a place for herself in the Little Professor pet family.

Make Something Every Day

So, yesterday on the etsy blog julieincharge suggested that artists to try to make something every day. So, I'm going to try to make at least 1 accessory every day from 1/8/11 to 1/8/12. So, the first thing I made was a little hair clip out of a rhinestone skull brooch with feathers.

And, lucky for me, I posted it on Twitter & one of my friends bought it already!

Today I'm working on fingerless gloves from Knitpicks. My friend Benji got the pattern & the yarn earlier in the winter and asked me to make them for me. I don't think I can finish the pair today, but maybe I can at least get 1 of them done. Of course, if the snowpocolypse happens then I could probably get quite a bit done.

Gone

Dad died last monday night.
That's a stark sentence to write. It's a stark thing to say over and over in all the phone calls that had to be made. I know this isn't anything new. People do this all the time. But now it's my turn. and I hate it, and I don't, and I don't really know what.
I'm keeping busy. I've tried to go, and do, and be around people every day for the last week. It helps.
I got a new tattoo Saturday, for dad. He'd hate it, and that makes it even better in a way. I told him I was going to do the last time I was in Memphis. He shuddered, and then said that I was an adult and I could do whatever I wanted. Then he shuddered again. He was obsessed with the fleur di lis. He had key chains, ties, thumb tacks, pillows, sheets, soaps, and even toilet paper with fleur di lis patterns. So... I thought it was appropriate.
I'm doing... ok. Some moment's I'm just fine and others I'm a wreck. That's to be expected too. The worst moments are when I forget for a second. Remembering is a lot like hell. But I'm glad he doesn't hurt anymore and I'm glad he wasn't stuck in bed during a long, slow dying. And he kept his sense of humor. He turned to look at me that night and said, "I'm dying."
"I know," I said.
He looked at me again, "No, I mean right now." It was the sort of twisted humor that we shared. Even the nurse got in on it. That helped a little. That he could laugh about it right at the end.
A while back, right after we found out that we hadn't beaten the cancer he said to me that "if 80% of people make it then someone has to be in the 20% and why not me? But if whoever I'm giving up my place for doesn't end hunger, or cure AIDS, or save children then we're going to have a long talk when they get to Heaven." I gotta say... that's fair. Whoever you are... do some good ok? He deserves it.

Traveling Paper Cranes

The cranes have started out. I've added India to my list of places that I hope to get pictures from My contact there is super busy though, so we'll see if she can fit it into her schedule.
In the meantime, here are the first two pictures...
Laura with a crane at the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee

Next, we've got one of the cranes relaxing with the Peabody Ducks in Memphis, Tennessee. This picture was taken during brunch with the whole family before Dad's ceremony at Millington. I got another picture, but the brown duck was diving for food so we got a great picture of her little ducky bum.

The Arthur Glassman Appreciation Day went really well. All three of Dad's siblings made it. In order, the siblings are: Herby (78), Graham (75), Francis (70), and Dad (62). Graham lives in North Carolina with his wife Margaret. Herby and his wife Marlene, and Francis and her partner Shirley all live near Atlanta. So everyone had long drives to come up and see us. My Mom's friend Kate also came to be with us. That much family was exciting, but also tiring. There was so much to catch up on.

(Graham & Dad at the Peabody)

(Daddy & Francis at the Peabody)

Memphis

Quick crane update. We are at 437 cranes!!!
My traveling Paper Crane Project is doing well. I've got cranes on their way to several states, the Virgin Islands, Equador, and Paris. I've got some of the smaller cranes sprayed down with a clear sealant and I'm going to try to get a few pairs of earrings made this weekend.
I'm in Memphis with Dad for the weekend. Dad worked as the administartor of a nursing home up here for ten years. On Sunday, his bosses are dedicating a wing of the building to him. All three of his siblings are coming in for it as well as lots of friends.
I'll post lots of pictures Sunday night or Monday when I get back home.

Birthdays & Travel Plans

So, I haven't caught up in a while because I've been at Dad's house in Memphis for his 62nd birthday party. He doesn't have wifi and I love this blog, but I'm not updating it from my phone.
The current crane count is 412! This is so awesome. It's so awesome that I've come up with a new idea. I want to expand. To build upon our success! I want the cranes to travel to all 50 states! If you've already got cranes then take a picture with a) a recognizable landmark or b) a roadsign or c) something that typifies the state and email it to me, post it on my facebook wall, or tweet it with my twitter id in it(medusasmirror).
So far; AL, MA and SC are all accounted for, but I'd love to get multiple pictures from each state so don't hesitate to participate just because you're in a state that's already claimed. And if you've got friends or relatives in unclaimed states get the on board too! I'm going to need lots of help on this one.
I'll write more about the weekend with dad later.