Give Away at O&L

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Originality, communication, and other issues

I woke this morning, feeling troubled. One of my favorite lists erupted yesterday, with some comments becoming heated, others placating, and leaving the sour taste of behind-the-scenes conversation. It's so difficult, this flatness of the written word, coupled with the eagerness to get out there, to communicate with others of a like mind, the need to drink in a feeling of community, and the wish to feel we are part of something, we share and share alike, and it is appreciated.

Frankly, I'm ignorant of the ways of those who steal other's ideas and pawn them off as their own. I don't understand the jealousy that is sometimes generated by the creation of a stupendously, movingly, beautiful piece of art. I mean, I know it's out there - I know that the theft of ideas, patterns, formulas, and that horrible jealousy of others' original thought DOES occur - but I have always, always believed that there are more who are appreciative than jealous, more who are giving than taking, and I get blind-sided every time this kind of issue occurs. I find such joy just knowing that I live in the same world where someone can create such beauty, how could I turn it ugly with jealousy and competition?

It's happened to me in the past, I know. It happened a lot, both during the establishment of my soapmaking business and the opening of our brick & mortar store in 2001. Although I will probably never forget the woman who had the store next to ours, the one who paraded around town as some sort of lost southern socialite, and announced to our mutual customers that she knew for a fact that I didn't make my soaps, and she had located the maker of the soaps and was also carrying the same ones, I don't expect people to act like that. That one shop owner alone "got" me a couple of times, hurt me severely, and deliberately went out of her way to impact my business. The same is true of another shop owner in that small town. Despite the wild and varied number of gift supply sources, he would come under the guise of friendship and commiseration, and then "lift" the sources I had worked so hard to find. It was so unexpected to me, that it felt as though I'd been thumped in the back, had the wind knocked right out of me, and then I felt further betrayed when I found that the town's regular customers had lined up and taken sides. It was ugly. It convinced me that I wasn't cut out for retail work, and it broke my heart. I thought I was making a difference, that I was providing joy and hope and outlets for artists - and I was - but that angered some people.

What causes the kind of heart in that fellow shop-owner that, when asked "Isn't this store beautiful?" the response is "YES! And it makes me sick!" followed by storming out the door? How in the world can you create beauty, set a lovely table, make a window vignette, when your soul is cancered with jealousy? And when you do your best to copy that neighboring vignette, right down to the cluster of tea cups on ribbons suspended in the window, do you really feel any joy over what you've created? Is your sole source of joy that little voice that says "I showed HER! I made something that looks exactly the same, she thinks she's so smart..."?

So now I find that this occurs in some quarters of the online art world as well. The tempests have been there before, and I've known of them, but I forget them. My heart wants to believe that those creativity thieves, those who have nothing original of their own to claim, are an infinitesimally small minority...and once again, the tempests, and the name calling and the soul scorching catches me by surprise and leaves me saddened.

As an aside, I know the friendship manipulators are out there too. I saw it way back when I was a sysop for INN - the people who pretend to be someone or something they are not, the people who stir the pot and sit back and watch the cat-fight. I know they are out there, but I also believe you can only hide your true nature for so long, and that your personality does come out in your writing eventually, and so I will continue to hope for the best in the development of my cyber pen-pals, as well.

I believe in online friendships, and support, and community, and a meeting of the minds. I think that all we can generate and create is magnified by a meeting of the minds, and I hunger for those meetings. I want to believe the best in people, no matter how many times I'm proven wrong, or I swear my soul will fry and wither. I don't want to waken feeling this saddened again; I will focus on the beauty and joy and thought-provoking discussions I've found, and do my best to nourish and support.

PS - See my reading list there, off to the right? Read Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral, and remind yourself of all the things that are wonderful about real girlfriends.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Apothecary jars - a birthday gift from my daughter.

I've recovered enough from the flu to once again putter about the house and enjoy my nest-making.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I woke this morning to a frigid, monotone world, with one of the dogs barking outside, but finally, thankfully, the wind quieted. I thought we would all blow away yesterday, the wind was so fierce. The kitchen window has frosted over, so I have no clue what the outdoor thermometer says, but the Weather Channel says it is five degrees above zero, with a wind chill of -10.

When I was a child, probably the year I was in second grade, I woke on my birthday to a sparkling world of icy crystals covering everything. It had been foggy, or slightly misty, during the night, and all the moisture in the air attached to tree branches, dried weeds, telephone wires, creating a glittering glass-like world. My mother told me that the outdoors were all dressed up for my birthday, and of course I believed her!

My daughter and granddaughter arrived last Wednesday evening (after a horrific ordeal of a travel/flight day) and have been in cahoots with Oldtimer for celebrating my day. It's such a treat just knowing that they are snugged up in the guest room. So far, Baby O and I have painted and colored and played in the button dish, and I haven't had to go to the office since Thursday morning. It's delightful.

I found my email full of birthday wishes today, and now I'm off to prepare for my other birthday event - my annual mammogram! What a way to celebrate, huh?

Soap Blog Post

New post on the mystery of soap ash on my soap blog, here:
http://oldtimerlily.com/blog/

The face...

Okay then...
You asked to vote, you asked to see the face, and here it is - along with the current hair options. Leave a comment, please, telling me which you like best.

Mohair locks in mint green

Marabou feathers in bright green

White Tibetan lamb

Black Tibetan lamb with white tips

Remember that the Tibetan lamb will be cut into a wig shape and applied to the head. The white could be made to have green tips, too. Or can you think of another option? Please leave your "vote" or suggestion as a comment.

The Button Jar

My brother and I are six years apart in age - he being the younger. Besides our age difference, we have many other aspects - personality, interests, appearance - that could not be more un-alike if we'd been born into separate families on different continents.

As children, he wanted to be with me and my friends whenever possible. As the big sister, I didn't want him trailing around with me, and I didn't want him playing with my toys - he had a tendency to cause damage to my dolls, or to tell me the "right way" to play with them. My father always said "Tim would be your best friend, if you would just LET him." I couldn't see it. There's a huge difference between a 10 year old and a 4 year old when it comes to play-time and interests.

We also bickered a lot. He teased me mercilessly, and I squawked. He spied on me and my friends, and I squawked. It was endless...our poor mother used to say things like "Why don't you just throw each other down the basement stairs and get it over with?" Of course, that shocked us enough to stop for an hour or so.

There were a few activities in our lives where we did get along. Occasionally, our mother would let us play in what was then a button box. This was a large old tin box, with a floral chintz print painted on top and bottom - navy blue with small flowers. My brother and I would spread a blanket on the living room floor, and sift through the buttons, sometimes playing "bank" or "store" and other times just sorting out our favorites.

When our mother passed away we were charged with dividing everything absolutely evenly between us. There was little or no conflict between us on the division; as a matter of fact, my Oldtimer said he'd never seen anything like it - both my brother and I went so far overboard trying to make certain the other person had things they wanted, to be absolutely fair, you could hear us saying "you take it, no you take it..." for days.

There were only two items in all of our mother's belongings that became issues (and I use the term "issue" lightly). One was the button jar (she had given up the tin in favor of a very old blue canning jar years before), and the other was an ornament Lolo LOVED that she had made of clear plastic medicine cups, dipped in gold glitter and formed into a ball. Neither one of us wanted that blasted medicine cup ball, and tried our best to foist it off on the other. And both of us wanted that button jar. Ultimately, as the "girl" in the family, I prevailed on the button jar - after all, as the "boy" in the family, he got our father's WWII medals.

Later, when discussing the button jar, I found that my brother wanted it because it contained so many happy memories for him of the times we got along, and the times we played together. His comment touched me deeply, and though I still have the jar, it is even more meaningful to me because of his remark.

As to the medicine cup thingy... I won - or so I thought. I simply forgot to take it to my house every time I worked on emptying Lolo's apartment, and ultimately, my brother couldn't leave behind something she loved so dearly. Of course, when Oldtimer & I married, despite the notation on the invitation of "No Gifts Please," my brother showed up with a very large, square, gift-wrapped box. Inside was the medicine ball decoration.

This Doll...

...needs her hair. I now have two options, perhaps three. I have a vibrant green feather boa that could look like fluffy hair; I have a multi-shaded lime green tibetan lamb plate that could be curly hair; I have a pure white lamb plate, so she could have white hair or white hair with tips, etc.

What do you think? Would you like to see the head with the options and give me some opinions?

Second Piece for Wearable Round Robin

Usually working under pressure gets me going on my projects. I think that's why I prefer working on challenge pieces or round robin projects - I need a deadline, and I know that any self-imposed deadlines are really just fake to fool me into production.

Or, I can create when I get an idea that haunts me, and nothing stops me from just going and going with it. That's pretty much what happened with the green doll, though her head and sleeves are still not attached.

Imagine my surprise when I realized I had play time AND inspiration, and plenty of time before the deadline (almost a month!) and I still was driven to do my part on the next piece of clothing for the wearable round robin.

Sherry sent in an oversized sweatshirt that she hand-dyed, and cut off the ribbing at collar, cuffs and bottom edge. Judi hand stamped some tumbling diamond shapes with Lumiere. And I decided the moment I saw it to cut it open and make it a jacket. I also knew I had this perfect piece of fabric somewhere in my stash that, in my mind's eye, was very color compatible with the shirt colors, and looked "painterly." So, this is how I spent my Saturday. Sherry's shirt before I worked on it:



And after:

The hem edge of both sleeves and the bottom of the shirt are still open, so if someone wants to work on the hand-dyed side, perhaps some stitchery or embroidery work, they can slip their hands inside and keep the two parts separate. As it stands now, the shirt is fully reversible, though I'm not sure it will stay that way - there are still five more people to do their thing with it!

Two Projects

Stayed home from work again today. Most of the time I sipped broth, read a book, and took little cat naps. I did have a little time to go to the treehouse and create, finishing two projects that need to get into the mail.
I'm hosting the Beaded Button Beauties swap on the CPS group, and was able to complete my offering today. She has the requisite button body and tail, a beaded dragonfly body and wings, and a turbaned face from Linsart.


Another view (hanging in front of the blinds):

Also, I made scrappy layered fabric, satin stitched hearts in pink, and cut out a couple of 2" squares for my Pink Artist offering for Monica Magness. I'm not sure yet which one I'll send - I like both of them.
And now...I'm heading back to bed, LOL!

Mail Call!

Today, I came home from the office early. I've been absolutely knocked out by a fierce and sudden head cold. As I puttered about the house, making myself some cold-killing garlic/thyme broth, and preparing to have my own personal pity party, I noticed a HUGE stack of mail on our front porch. Among the many treasures that arrived was my copy of Ricë Freeman-Zachary's new 'zine.

I just had to post a photo here, because Ricë took such pains to decorate the envelope - and it looks as though the stamp cancelling technique used by the post office involved a truck tire!

You might want to go HERE and see if there are more copies to order... I do love a paper 'zine I can hold in my hand (and take to my nest, while having a pity party)!

Bits & Pieces

I remember a book on my mother's shelves entitled "How Lost Was my Weekend," which is much how I feel this Sunday evening. I can't believe how quickly my weekends pass by, and how un-ready I am to return to the office on Monday morning. I just have too much fun staying home!

Tonight I have a special sympathy for our deck rat, pictured above. If I had a tail to wrap in, I'd do it. I know that we in NE Ohio aren't the only ones suffering from a wintery blast, but it doesn't make my pain any less! I'd forgotten how painful my hands and feet become (Reynaud's Syndrome), and have complained endlessly to my poor Oldtimer.

Two weeks ago, when I was working with dye for that round robin silk jacket, I used the bucket of dye to over-dye this inexpensive denim jacket, too. I like the way it looks (though it needs a good ironing). Isn't it intriguing - the thread used for the decorative stitching must not be natural, as it didn't take one bit of color.


Yesterday, before the REALLY bitter cold set in, we made a trip to the antique store we found in Middlefield. We brought home a primitive grain bin, which now sits in the front entry under a framed print of grapes and vines, with a beautiful ornamental candle atop the bin. While there, I purchased these antique buttons:
The buttons above were labeled "Bakelite," but I think it's more likely that they are some sort of Lucite. They just thrill me - very similar to the one decorative button my mother had in her collection, that remains my favorite to this day.

One of my online friends wrote a note to me, asking about my "treehouse" workspace. I'm sure I disappointed her, but I had to confess that I don't really do my sewing and creating in a treehouse, it's just a name that was given to my previous space, and it followed along when we moved here. I've included a photo of the back of our house (below) which shows where the treehouse window is located. As you can see, from the rear perspective, the window appears to be on the third floor, so it is a bit among the treetops. You can also see the loft window, where I peer at the passing dear while seated at my computer.

That view of the rear of the house is taken across the neighbor's yard. I normally love my view out the window from the treehouse, but the weather right now has everything looking BLEAK. Case in point:
And....
It looks so bleak and monochromatic. Maybe if I hang goodies back in the window, like this:
But part of the problem is that the windows are radiating cold, so I've been going around the house, pulling and closing shades, and attempting to reduce drafts. I hate not being able to look out, and I'm not very fond of the house's appearance from the exterior, either - it looks like blank eyes staring back.

I lower the blinds:
But that's not much better. Guess I better close the blinds:And focus on what I can see beyond the edges:

and...

I DID manage to get all the fragrances and butters uploaded to the new Oldtimer & Lily site. It won't be long before I'm processing orders from that address - http://www.oldtimerlily.com/

And now I'm off to get some rest!

Pink Artist here!

The extraordinary Monica Magness has started this breast cancer project, and I am honored to join in. Won't you play, too?

A Little Bit of Creativity

Though I worked on both practical and fun things this weekend, I haven't had much time in the treehouse. I did manage to complete two projects, though, and I'm well pleased with both.
The first item is my January beaded square for the monthly challenge on the ClothPaperStudio list. I worked in peach, copper, and a touch of purple, calling my January square "Prosperity."

I'm also in an Altered Wearable round robin. You might remember the pure white silk jacket I posted a while back - well, this is what I ended up doing. First I stamped random stars using a Jacquard antique gold resist. Then I used a wine colored dye, striving for both a mottled and a shaded effect. The shoulders are the darkest portion, and it gets gradually lighter as you work toward the hem. Today it is off to the next person on the list.
Here's a little hem detail...
I have lots and lots of things to do on my creative list. I feel so much better when I get some creative time. However, right now my creative time must go toward getting the new soap and fragrance site up at www.oldtimerlily.com (and work the day job, of course).

It Melted!

All that snow I showed you a few days ago...you know the stuff? It's gone. Zilch. Zero snow on the ground and there's still some green grass underneath. The temp outside today, here near the shores of Lake Erie, just across the border from Canada, is 60!!

This Minnesota native cannot believe this. Sometimes it would be MONTHS - from November through March, where the ground was constantly covered in snow, ice, and grimy sludge. The month of January means near zero temps, walking head down into the driving wind, with your tears freezing on your cheeks, or your eyelashes freezing together when you blink.

I'm sorry Al Gore, but...long live global warming. I know, I know, I don't mean it...but I kinda do.