a really "cheep" little project

Oliver and I are kicking around today, folding laundry and waiting for the dishwasher repairman. I barely slept last night for some reason, and need to reserve my energy for a performance and a few late nights later this week, so this is fine.

I got to try something I've been wanting to do recently, a little decal job with some one-cent American Kerstrel (bird) stamps and a small cardboard birdhouse we bought at an art supply shop for ninety-nine cents, bringing the total cost to $1.47, plus tax. Except that the stamps cost $8.50 off of eBay, including shipping, and I used the entire sheet, so it really turned out to be a $9.49 job. And of course, only after I was done did it dawn on me those stamps might be worth even more one day, had I not stuck them to a cardboard birdhouse. 

It does make a cute little ornament. I'll have to try with one of my favorite (but not one-cent) stamps, the holiday evergreen series. That would be really pretty.

 Bare birdhouse.

Some supplies. I was going to do a bird egg, too, but I ran out of

American Kerstrel stamps working on the birdhouse.

I'll try again some other time.

Now, the birdhouse. I tiled that roof like a roofer, thinking all the while about how I'd want my roof shingled. Fact: I am an EXPERT WATERPROOFER. Ask somebody.

Etc. etc. etc., and here we are. Final touch was cutting out the door. I have an aunt who I think is really into birds. I feel like sending it to her. It makes me think, what else can I do with stamps? I love the repetitive graphic, which is why this sheet of stamps has been hanging on our living room wall for years. Fun!

showtime: i want a little sugar in my bowl, elbo room, april 10, 2012

Pics or it didn't happen, right?


Here are some shots from my act at the spring themed show last Tuesday with Bombshell Betty and her Burlesqueteers. I have to say, I was a nervous wreck, not having performed since December, having mommy friends in the audience that had never seen me perform before, and losing a pin that held an important part of my costume together ten minutes before I hit the stage. That REALLY rattled me. Someone handed it to me as I walked on stage, and I dumped it in my Easter basket and scrambled to use it when it was time, creating a totally cringe-worthy section of my act that David and I can't even watch, it's so bad! Most of these shots are just video stills, so excuse the quality!

But, as Bombshell Betty has pointed out to me time and time again, when someone gives you a compliment about your act, it's best to thank them and not point out the mistakes you made. If you know me, it's painfully hard for me to accept a complement in my day-to-day life. And it's all magnified in this context! It's possible (really?) people didn't notice that long, drawn out moment in my act where I totally checked out to concentrate on repinning my costume, but it's hard for me to believe that. Also, the tripping. I tripped over my boa made of boxes of Peeps. I knew I shouldn't have kept that little high risk/low reward portion in the act. Should've gone with my gut.

DESPITE all this, I actually had a few small victories this time. I teased. I moved slowly (the Nina Simone song helped with that), as opposed to the frenetic, epiplectic movements I used in my Linus and Lucy act during the holidays. The big jokes (the eggs, the giant Sugar Daddy paddle) went off without a hitch, and I was into it. I had fun! 

I wish I had time these days to prepare new acts, but instead for now I'll wait patiently for a show theme or venue that would fit my favorite act, my flamenco act from last summer. I am really hoping to revisit that this year!

corners: air plants

I wanted to show you a little something else before the weekend. Air plants! Our recent "kitchen renovation" needed a little greenery. I stopped at Paxton Gate the other day and found some really great air plants. I tacked one to the wall, and hung the other larger plant in front of the kitchen window from the ceiling. These are plants I may not kill, which would be great. My green thumb is highly selective. 

These photos don't really do it justice (our kitchen has only a north-facing window and is so dim), but they have warmed up the space nicely. We were used to a giant vine hovering over us for so many years, it's nice to have a little tiny bit of green back up there.


We also replaced the old, cooking grease covered strings of lights with new, white, soon-to-be cooking grease covered strings of lights. It's a nice change. It lifts the ceiling a little bit.


Have a great weekend, everyone!