Worst (or possibly the best??) White Elephant EVER!!

Heather again here. I had to share!

I went to this fabulous white elephant party last weekend and was most impressed with the thought, time and creativity that went into each gift. I however, pulled mine together from what I had in my garage (which is FULL of "treasures") 20 minutes before I had to leave, the paint wasn't even dry on one of my gifts when I shoved it into the box... what can I say, I work better under pressure, adrenaline is my friend.

So we draw numbers and karma pulled through against me. I was next to last, which is the worst to draw since the last number gets to see everything opened and steal accordingly. As I grabbed the large (very last) gift under the tree I saw the gifter grimace with pity... which of course only peaked my morbid curiosity, plus I am always a sucker for anything wrapped.

As I pulled out the large hairy (yes... hairy) pillow I ran my fingers across it trying to figure out what kind of yetty died in vain for this horrible decorative accent. Then I noticed the tag with a picture of a sullen dog.... eew! This pillow was covered (as in glued) with the brushed off sheddings of what must have been a year long collection of dog hair... very clever, and still very stuck to the velour pants I was wearing.

I would re-gift it next year but I'm afraid I'll be blacklisted, and pretty sure it may start to smell by then. Maybe I'll just tack it to the wall for our art show, like a funky avant-garde modern piece.

I wonder how much I could get for it.

Speaking of cupcakes...

So nice to hear from Heather. I'm glad she could tear herself away from eating bon bons and watching tivo re-runs of Yo Gabba Gabba long enough to prove she exists (but seriously, I am pleased to have her publicly join our blog).

It's funny--Heather and I are often inspired by the same things. I made this crochet cupcake (above) as a Christmas gift last week, right about the same time Heather was dreaming of Cupcake Royale.

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. I'm borrowing my daughter's computer, which similar to the last two computers that crashed on me, is an old formerly crashed computer that she somehow got working??? It's rather archaic, and I'm not even completely sure if this post will work; it's like dealing with a zombie computer--it used to be dead, and now it's (possibly against its will) been brought back to life, with minimal out-of-date programs, and no space bar (don't ask me about how I'm making spaces). Anyway, I just had to pop in and put my two cents. It's very cathartic, this blogging--even if no one were to read it. Words are like balloons (even when you type them), ideas being released into the air.

As for the links--I am too busy to keep them fresh at the moment; I have a interior painting/mural project and Heather and I need to get ready for our show next month. We'll bring the links back as soon as we can post them with the integrity we originally intended.

*okay Heather, bring it...say something else. Let them see why we go together like cornflakes and ketchup (or is it catsup?).

(jen)

So here I am...

Heather here... I had to "man up" and take on the blog while Jen tries to find a solution to her curious magnetic field that continues to destroy each computer she ventures near. I guess that can happen when you are hit by lightening. Let's hope for all of our sakes that she finds a solution or you will be stuck with me... which means you never know what your going to get.

Anyhoo... I've been thinking about cupcakes lately and they have actually been inspiring me to do something artistic, not with the cupcake per say (although that could be my next venture after cheese whiz sculptures, at least the mistakes would be more palatable) maybe I'll just start by painting them(canvas not cake)...

I not only appreciate the scrunptious yumminess of the cute little cakes at my local cupcake bakery (the appropriately named Cupcake Royal http://www.cupcakeroyale.com/ ) but also the wonderful presentation which makes each cupcake look like an adorable present wrapped in frosted happiness.

I'll get back to you on my cupcake creation when I decide which creative direction I am going to take... but for now I'm hungry and wondering if I dare brave the snow and ice for a Sunday morning cupcake... sounds like an adventure!

--Heather

Some updates

twinkle twinkle—designed by Heather, painted by jen

Okay, so first…I should explain that my back-up computer crashed. It was a reconstituted computer that had crashed a couple of years ago, so it’s not completely shocking, but a little disappointing. Thanks to my friends Jodi and Keith, I am borrowing this computer until I’m finished with finals—and really I feel a little guilty writing this, because it’s not completely necessary, but I feel I owe it to my and Heather’s [imaginary] public to state I don’t know how we will blog without my computer. I guess I need to save up my cookies and buy a new one…or better, strong-arm Heather into going public.

Oh, an important announcement: I just received conformation that Heather, Mary Hawk (artist/counselor), and jen (me) will have the opportunity to show our work at a building on Capitol Hill (Seattle) mid January through February. We’ll have little kick-off reception to open our modest show. I’m really excited because our art will compliment another well. *stay tuned for details.

As for the art, since my computer is gone, I again have no images. I considered borrowing a picture or two from my friends’ computer; there seem to be a lot of pictures of their kids eating ice cream. I decided against borrowing. Instead I dug through prep sketches for a mural project Heather and I did. It was a storybook theme. There were 3 sketches between us, and to keep it fair, I did one, she did one, and the third she designed and I painted. So the first picture shown is her original design re-painted by me for our final sketch, and the one below is a final sketch I designed and painted.

Hope to touch base soon.

(jen)

this old man--by jen

So Sorry--Just a Headline...Computer Crashed Again (try to catch up later)