broadside

Ah, the illustrious Plan B.

My plan was firm. Walk home from the MAX, 82 degree weather; sweltering. Strip down to tank top and the same pants I'd been wearing all day and get down to finishing thank you notes from my bridal shower. I got caught up for just a moment texting about a friend's daughter's stomach-churning chin injury (slingshot fun gone all wrong), opening a beer and getting myself organized.

My mind has been running in all directions, all day. I've heard this is to be well expected in the month leading up to your wedding, but geez. I cannot think straight. I should get up now and turn off the XM radio that's tunnelling into my ears, straight into my brain.

Here's the breakdown:

1. I read a blog called "500 Pieces of Prudent Advice for my Baby Daughter." I really enjoy the concept of this blog and I've found myself mentally collecting pieces of advice for Chloe, or for my own unborn.

Today's nugget: Write thank you notes. Every time. It feels good. Your hands might ache and you might fear you're becoming repetitive, but it is as lovely to receive kindness as it is to express your gratitude.

There's another one in the works about overcoming difficulty and striving for ambitious, seemingly impossible goals, but I haven't fleshed it out yet.

2. I wanted to post photos and ideas pertaining to the wedding...to demonstrate that I've made at least a little progress. I cleared off the kitchen table and prepared my guest "box" - an address box serving as a guest book - and my rehearsal dinner bouquet - created from the ribbons and bows from my bridal shower gifts. Then I realized my camera's in the trunk of the car, which Jesse drove to work tonight. All I've got are these photos of the finished ring bearer bowl:



3. I was inspired today. I don't know what it was, if it was one genesis or several. I've been thinking about letterpress broadsides since seeing a call for art for a local show. Granted, my letterpress is not remotely up and running yet, but I'm down to try freehanding some. Check out these gorgeous pieces from Anagram Press in Tacoma. I'm most interested in their Feminism Series broadsides, but the bird prints are awesome as well. I'm leaning toward the lush olive & chocolate Victory Garden print as a favorite.

I like the idea of handcreating a poster with an uplifting message. I just bought the incredible Handy Book of Artistic Printing and it's teeming with ideas that could be built upon with pen and paper. I even have my first topic chosen.

Secondly, I just requested a copy of the police report from the accident that caused my grandmother's death. She was hit by a car and killed on Christmas Eve last year and I still have unanswered questions and uncertain responses to the incident. I envision using copies of the report in an artist's book expressing grief. Or maybe the dichotomy of burying my grandparents ashes two days before getting married. An interesting balance...

It seems I may not have had so much to say afterall. I feel content with that, and happy that I've discovered a little pocket of bloggers at the enormous agency where I work. Maybe now I'll feel like I'm addressing an audience!

ring bearer

With an influx of wedding-related enthusiasm, I’ve been browsing Etsy to get ideas to accentuate the DIY vibe of our event. The site is a goldmine of inventive creations that beg to be made by my fumbling fingers. I’ve derived a list of items I hope to make myself, and I decided to start with a substitute for the traditional satiny ring bearer pillow.

Instead, I wanted to get super ambitious and try knitting and felting a ring bearer bowl. I was daunted to try using circular knitting needles for the first time. My first go at it produced the beginnings of a bowl whose rim was going to be about 2.5 feet in diameter. After purchasing a smaller set of bamboo circular needles, I got back on the right track.



This smaller bowl knitted up very fast and I finished the basin part of the bowl and secured a ribbon through some of the looser stitches at the bottom (to hold the rings in place during the ceremony). I mentally prepared myself to toss my precious construction in the wildly thrashing water of my washing machine.



After about 25 minutes of harsh agitation, I pulled the bowl from the washing machine and squeezed out the excess water. The “felting” process had helped the rows of yarn to blend together into a thick fabric consistency. The individual stitches now blended together and were indistinguishable. This last photo is of the felted bowl before I shaped it and dried it over a balled up dishtowel.


I’m considering some kind of beaded embellishment to make this bowl more “pretty” and wedding appropriate. Photos to come.