this barren ground

put a bird on it

okay, so before i saw this hilarious clip from portlandia, i loved little bird icons. now, it feels utterly cliche, but i still like it. reed and i stenciled today and it was the perfect project for a toddler and crafty mom. he chose a gorilla, i chose, you guessed it! a bird. but there's two, so that's what makes it so cutting edge and unique. ;)
before i ruined a bunch of clothes, we started with some old flour sack dish towels lying around. now, i want to go crazy and stencil the walls, all our clothes, tablecloths, and toilet paper.

pesto parmesan swirl bread

in anacortes, near my mom's old dress shop, we used to stop at an italian restaurant on the way home to get some ooey gooey pesto parmesan bread to take home. usually only half made it there, but i've never forgotten that savory treat. if you want the recipe, please just ask.

after going through the whole dough making & punching process, slather, i mean SLATHER with basil pesto

then give a hearty blanket of freshly shaved parmesan inside and on top when rolled

voila!

i also made cinnamon, pecan & orange swirl, but that's more conventional:

this is love

after an amazingly romantic weekend with my love in seattle, i thought that i might share a different kind of love on this v day. when we look at our own love lives- the way we show it to our significant others, we find that surprisingly, it is filled with much self-interest, jealousy, fickleness and just plain misdirected emotions. i have had my share of "lover's quarrels" and spats over my lifetime and will, unfortunately continue to do so (hopefully on a less frequent basis). our society & culture is so in need of love- but have a hard time getting past the sin that marrs it, but we are not left without an example of real love.


anneli anderson, potter

 thank goodness we are not left with an existential feeling of despair that all is hopeless & fleeting in regards to amore. God gave us ultimate love- and the purest form of it:
This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4:10
so, while we are left to fend for ourselves in finding out if we should make a steak dinner, buy roses or lillies, jewlery or chocolate, we are not left without an example of true, selfless love. i pray that this valentine's day you are able to seek Him, and model His love in your life. that will be the ultimate gift that even Hallmark's missing out on.

happy birthday lilie!

my friend had a baby. now adelaide has a friend named lilie. so we made her a little banner. (actually I  made it, but Addy slept for me so i could make it)
such an easy task, but easy to personalize and embelish- with glitter in this case.

 

 

valentine's weekend

sleepover!

thanks to the wonderful folks at Hotel Max, we will have an awesome little getaway across the water in Seattle- just the two of us. my mind is spinning of all the things i want to do and not do. (no diaper chgs., no dinners to make, baths to give, dishes to clean... all for a glorious 24hrs.) basically i plan to not think too much about anything. i hear its supposed to be a cozy 49degrees out, so we might be able to hike around to the diff. neighborhoods. then again, why go out when we can stay in? i love their cozy beds, Aveda toiletries and art filled rooms.

on the food front i recently found out about this restaurant called Lecosho on the Harbor Steps. happy hour appetizers look perfect. but then again, our old standby of Maximillen in the market is always very romantic, very french and very cheap (always a plus!)                                                  

music maestro... lastly, i just was thinking about a good music playlist... any ideas?

i know the video looks sad, but has anyone else thought this song was very... well, kinda sexy?



a post with an agenda

so spring is around the corner, so along with my renewed vigor for all things gardening related, my food justice bone has been flexed. (can you flex your bones?) while the topic is so vast and filled with politics, conspiracy theories, dirty lobbyists, and points and counterpoints, i plan to share some resources with you and my view from a humble theoligical perspective.

To Garden With God, by Christine Sine

my dad recently had a plesant fellowship day at his church where member Grahm Kerr shared a flavorful root soup with a coconut milk base and they hosted author & speaker Christine Sine. as my dad shared with me her principles, i couldn't help finishing his sentences and get excited. as i see on the page here, her love for dirt, community, vegetables and God echo my heart's passions. the bright side of our conversation included yummy recipes, their church's plans for their community garden & heirloom veggies.

as with many things i felt compelled to open my mouth and share my passionate distain for the corrupt & greedy side of gardening. in a word it could be summarized by saying Montsano .  while i wouldn't go so far as to call it the Halliburton or Enron of agriculture... some would. whether you object to the scientific practice of genetically modifying seeds, or the slew of ecosystems that have been altered and/or killed due to the harsh chemicals, this monolith has also oppressed many small time famers that do not have the backing to fight against such giants. an article in Vanity Fair addresses one aspect of their evil here:

Most Americans know Monsanto because of what it sells to put on our lawns— the ubiquitous weed killer Roundup. What they may not know is that the company now profoundly influences—and one day may virtually control—what we put on our tables. For most of its history Monsanto was a chemical giant, producing some of the most toxic substances ever created, residues from which have left us with some of the most polluted sites on earth. Yet in a little more than a decade, the company has sought to shed its polluted past and morph into something much different and more far-reaching—an “agricultural company” dedicated to making the world “a better place for future generations.” Still, more than one Web log claims to see similarities between Monsanto and the fictional company “U-North” in the movie Michael Clayton, an agribusiness giant accused in a multibillion-dollar lawsuit of selling an herbicide that causes cancer.

another giant still that threatens the american people and health is none other than another media favorite, (que the duh duh duh) Corn Sugar... formerly known as High Fructose Corn Syrup. yay, smart source groups have changed the name to a more palatable name. while many say the jury is still out on its health and medical detriments- one thing is for sure, the mega crop used not necessarily for corn consumption, but the fructose counterpart is a threat to the earth. its effects of planting the crops (also soy has the same effects in the U.S.) as a "monocrop" is not natural to the environment thus rendering the soil depleted of its nutrients and relying more and more on fertilizers and pesticides.

the toil that our overconsumption takes on the earth (ok, some call it a 'global footprint') to me is less of a political and 'green' concern persay, but one of stewardship. so often the very people that scoff at the mention of using less, more sustainability and any hint that our fast paced lifestyle is affecting the environment are sometimes very often the people who keep meticiculously green & manicured lawns, a balance bank account, and a well running car... as fellow Christians, they do this in name of "stewardship". my only plea to both sides would be that we would see our stewardship on this earth would ring out further than our mailboxes. be it CAFOs (chicken factories), obliterating ecosystems with the use of pesticides, or animals treated with antibiotics and fed questionable meals they were never meant to eat- there is a trickle down effect to the farmer and their hancuffed obligation to the "man" and the voracious consumer who wants more more more and cheap cheap cheap.

i end all of this with the hugest disclosure that i am a hypocrite- i ate fried chicken from Safeway the other day (assuredly it is not free-range, local and sustainably raised), i have shopped at mega-marts that sell cheap goods by means of oppressing the makers of that good. the list goes on. it'd be hard to live in america and not have a Liz Lemon moment on 30 Rock when she she realizes the ec0-friendly "butt-minimizing" jeans she's in love with are not really made in USA but the leftovers from Halliburton and made by orphans on a prison island name Usa... Ok, that's a colorful example, but I am not dellusional to think that my day to day spendatures don't affect someone. and that's perhaps all i am asking of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. that would would be aware of our careless actions. we should take account of such verses as Zech. 7:10, Jeremiah 5:28, Jere 7:6...

"Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.''

I believe we have a responsibility as followers of Jesus that we would reflect Him as we go about our day. to think of our actions and be aware of the consequences. to seek justice for the oppressed. to not opress and prostitute ourselves in the name of convenience. to take in less as a choice- not because its easy but because our focus is not comfort but our goal is to make disciples of all nations and show people the love of Christ.

my little mari

as a little girl, i called a flower a mari. not sure why, but the childlike name seems fitting for these fun little guys that you can attach to ANYTHING- headbands, cardigans, purses, little baby heads (warning, they won't stay on if you hope for them to daintily sit on top)... etc. I know they are everywhere lately, but i can't help but fawn over the girliness of these. i can't wait to make more!

p.s., sorry for the quality, i finished at night, so the pics are grainy

bad mom confessional

instead of cleaning the sticky, white grape juice covered floor, i went and put my slippers on. aahh... much better. makes a little sound as my boots squeak squeak across the floor, but i just turn up the radio.

dreaming and organizing are not paradoxes

during a relaxing afternoon where i let adelaide pull wipes out of the container to keep her busy, i was able to flip through magazines and add the ideas and "looks" that i want to catalog for the future. adding them to a notebook via clear sleeves was easy and fun to see how themes developed and rooms took shape. who knows when any of these "plans" can actually come to fruition, but at least i found a way to dream, plan & scheme while making a bit of sense of it all.

modern traditional

after a very exciting first trip to ikea, a jubilant trip to anthropologie, and much time wavering over paint colors, i've found the look i am going for. the nest.com describes it as "modern traditional"- but i think that narrows it a little too much.

think :

charcoals, chair rail, glowing lights, apothecary jars, clean lines, worn furniture (by necessity with 2 kiddos!)

SEASONS

here is a jewel of a book that i checked out from the library for my kids. little did i know how i would fall head over heels with its vivid, iconic depictions of the seasons. fit for any age- i want to buy 2 of these books- one to set on the coffee table and one to take apart and frame pages. arguably the best whimsical decor i've seen thus far. what a bonus that i found a youtube video of it! enjoy!

art school

whenever reed and i paint or draw together i always love his creations over mine. he should be my teacher.

"mommy colors" reed paul jackson 2011

"mask" reed paul jackson 2011

"thursday morning" mom jackson 2011

i am a bunny and i live in a hollow tree...

 there is a season for everything and that especially means all things in the art and creative realm. my wonderful husband helped me realize this inclination that i had, and now it removes the "creative guilt" that sometimes overtakes me when i have left one endeavor for another. it also reminds me of my favorite book growing up as a kid, where the bunny basks in each picturesque setting of the seasons and describes each activity. i mirrored that style in regards to my creating seasons...

• in the summer i spend time sketching plans for the garden, getting my fingers in the soil and letting them be stained by the green of the grass and letting them dance over the grill or skillet as i saute fresh green beans or swiss chard. this season i let my inside passions go and walk barefoot.

• in the fall my mood changes to an energetic melancholy- what this looks like i can't explain. only that suddenly i want to read milan kundera, wear a skirt with a tweed blazer and walk the 'quad'. my canvas starts to look more like a real canvas with acrylic paint and charcoal on it. there is also a bounty of harvest and that leads me to milk all i can with the season's highlights. (i also learned to crochet and began to write more.)                        

• in the winter, for some odd reason becomes my deepest longing and need to experience a serious rendering of art. less in this time to i reach out for inspiration, but instead i dig deep and pour out. if i chronicle the past 5 years i see a history of this. standing out in my garage/studio with fingerless gloves huddling over the heat lamp, watching my breath as i sing at the top of my lungs a Bon Iver song (aptly named, too as it means 'Good Winter') and step back and sigh. it is in this season i received my first easel, showed my first pieces at a gallery and a festival, i sought out an amazingly talented encaustic mentor, and framed one of my biggest pieces to date. in this season, i come alive, i am ready- the cold brings out something in me. it affirms my hunch that cold cities produce true art and artists. (think Russia and Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Nabokov, think Seattle and all the amazing musicians, think Paris and A Movable Feast, painters and musicians alike, etc, etc, etc) this also becomes a cozy and perfect time to sew and create functional pieces for myself and loved ones.

• i like to lump spring in with winter somewhat in that we have a very non-distinct break from the storms and wet gray. but this is okay as the symbol of spring matters more to me and my art in that the birth and renewal of foliage reminds me of this life and how i am most alive when i have put to death the things of this world. ("for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." romans 8:13)

as always, here's some music that is inspiring me at the moment: the National

aprons pt. 2

the ruffled, tiered apron was finally finished at 2am christmas eve eve. whew! what a project! the most time consuming part was hemming each of the ruffles and then gathering them. i modeled it after an apron i already have by the brand name "funktion".

aprons pt.1

as a kid i used to call it "my maker" because, obviously, when you wear one, you are making something. whatever you call them, they are fun to wear, own, make and even look at. no wonder there is a resurgence of aprons in a rather funky and chic art form. i have been dying to make some and here are some of the results now that Christmas is on its way... (I named them after the soon-to-be-recipients of the presents)

the "Gracie"

 

the "Madi"



this one is mine- so, "untitled 1" ?

this one was made out of 3 men's shirts from Goodwill... go figure!

if you want any of the patterns or other details, let me know and i'd be happy to share... if i can make them, anyone can!