Leather Mask Making

Last week Amanda and I made some leather masks.  We didn't make them simply for kicks and giggles, but for a school assignment.  Amanda's teacher instructed the class to do one thing they have always wanted to do.  A life skill or goal.  It was meant to be something that would help push limits and assist in discovering new talents and loves.  Baking, the teacher said, was allowed, but discouraged, because cookies only go to benefit a waistline.

It took us a full weekend and plenty of patience, but we ended up with some lovely results.  First up is my mask.  It's a bit rough around the edges, I need to trim a few spots and apply another coat of paint, this time including the edges.  But it's fun and strange, which is what I wanted.  The eyes aren't the same size or shape, which adds to the oddness of my mask.

And then Amanda's mask.  Her mask is of course much more clean cut, detailed and well painted.  But what else would I expect from an art major?

I think we both really enjoyed the process, and since we still have the materials I'm sure we will do it again.

Weekend in Seattle

Two weeks ago I got the chance to visit the Seattle Art Museum, known as SAM. Previously I talked about my upcoming trip in this post, "Daft Punk Vrs. Michael Jackson? Six Minutes of Joy!"

The museum was wonderful. In addition to the overwhelming amount of Picasso artwork, there were pieces by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. All artists that I enjoy, and am slowly gaining appreciation for. Koons is one that puzzles me. His artwork covers such varied subjects and is done in such different styles that I can can like and respect some of his pieces and be disgusted by others.

Tulips by Jeff Koons

In addition to wonderful, SAM was overwhelming and exhausting.  I was asleep by early in the evening back at the very comfortable hotel bed.  I am one of those strange people that enjoy everything about hotels, even the beds.

But I didn't just go to Seattle and view only art.  I also got to wander around the town, something I have not done for twelve years.  Pikes Place Market is just as much fun as I remember, even without lots of fish flying through the air.  One of the major fish throwing booths was closed for renovations, or something silly like that.

After wandering around back and forth we finally found Pikes Place Public Market.  Joy!  Notice how it's a beautiful day for being January and Seattle.  No rain makes it a nice day at that time of year.

The smell of fresh seafood filled the air.  For me the smell of the sea and fresh ocean fish is a shocking, but refreshing smell.  I envision smelling salts smelling the same.

In addition to the seafood there are lines of fresh produce.  It's so...refreshing!

Kumquats.  $5.95 a pound.  They also make for a lovely picture.

This woman makes and sells instruments.  My Father recently found a flute that she purchased from her about fourteen years ago.  She is playing an Ocarina, an instrument from the Legend of Zelda.

Stunning buildings.  I could just wander downtown Seattle for days and be happy taking pictures of buildings.

And finally, a stunning picture of the waterfront and downtown, taken from the top of the Space Needle.  It was my first time up, and it was very nice.  But I'm glad someone else paid for me to go to the top, the experience does not seem worth the $18 price tag.

It was a great weekend vacation, and I would love to do it again sometime, with more than a day to explore downtown Seattle.

Daft Punk Vrs. Michael Jackson? Six Minutes of Joy!

I'm comfortably under the covers of my girlfriend's bed, finding new ways to put off writing while she readies a playlist for an upcoming trip.  Her actions are generating wonderful quotes and rocking tunes as she discovers strange song titles and my subsequent reactions to the titles.  Such as the title of this posting.  Song Title: Daft Punk Vrs. Michael Jackson.  My Reaction: Six Minutes of Joy!

We played a few minutes of it.  It was, well, not six minutes of joy.  But hopefully what she is putting together for the trip will produce joy across all the tracks.  This Friday we are travelling to Seattle to spend two nights and view the Seattle Art Museum display of Picasso artwork.

The display has more than 150 pieces of his work, so if I spend a minute looking at each piece, it will take two and a half hours to view them all.  I have a feeling I will be mentally tired by the end.  Art is somehow draining, both to make and to view.

Thinking of art, Amanda has to paint a four by six foot painting by the end of the term for one of her classes.  I look forward to the result, which is a little less than three months away.  As for myself, I am taking it easy and only taking one class.  Financial Accounting.  Which may or may not be fun.  I have yet to open up the textbook, which worries me as it is the second day of the term.  But there is a very valid reason for it!  I am trying to find out from the professor if I can use the old edition, instead of the new 2010 version.  It's a matter of paying $60 or $160.  A large difference, that this poor college student can't really afford.

But I am working hard to get any money that I can.  School and work are back in full swing, with me finding myself in a new position and working 34 hours a week.  It's keeping me busy, and only modestly stressed.  But I can always find ways of relaxing.  Such as going to see Tron in 3D.  Which I have done.  For now, I am off to find another way to relax even more.  Perhaps through a nap, since I am comfortable under some blankets.

Pictures Around the Block

Today I took advantage of the sunny (but very cold) day and took a few pictures around the neighborhood.

A valiant plant not letting anything, even Shelf Fungus, get in its way.

A water droplet clinging onto our Japanese Maple.

Halloween Is Coming Early

Yesterday I was browsing through a craft store and gravitated toward the books.  Because books rock.  But one book that I found does not rock.  It's terrifying.  It's traumatizing.  It's mind raping.  It's Halloween on a book cover.

Moments later, Rosie could no longer suppress her hunger, and ate the children.

Really, who thought the cover, or anything about this book would be a good idea?  If a house had one of these laying around I would experience the same fear as if the house had guns laying on the table being cleaned and a blood stains on the table cloth.  With a serrated knife stuck into the table.

Rosie O'Donnell, you scare me.

The Christmas Aftermath

Christmas came and went, leaving behind debris of half eaten food and brightly colored wrapping paper.  Myself and my girlfriend took part in two Christmas celebrations.  I drove out to her house and spent the morning with her family going though my stocking, scratching lottery tickets (I won nine dollars) and cleaning up their house.  After, Amanda and I drove back into town to open presents with my family.

And now, for the stuff I got!

A Geoffrey Beene Sateen dress shirt, vibrant red and wonderfully smooth.  I love it.
A Van Heusen chocolate brown dress shirt with thin black pinstripes.  Ditto the above love.
Two pairs of super hero socks by Sock it to Me.

Four Days Till Christmas

Amanda is sleeping on the couch, curled up in a green blanket while I sip on some Yogi Fasting Tea.  The Christmas tree is close enough that I can reach out and touch its soft green needles and warm, pretty white lights.  Life is good. Despite the usual ups and downs of emotions and life, I know that life is good.

In five days my sister Emily along with her husband will be down here visiting, and we will be opening up whatever presents appear under the tree.