Thursday Tunes: Ohio State Marching Band

I'm no normally one to post "viral" videos, but this one is just too incredible.  (You've probably already seen it, and this last week they did an equally amazing show.)  The Ohio State marching band moonwalks (around 4:30), and the Thriller part is very Halloween appropriate. 

One Canoe Two

While we were in Louisville I discovered an amazing letterpress company from mid-Missouri!  One Canoe Two offers fabulous prints, cards, and home goods.  Check out these beautiful tea towels.  The Kentucky print is the one that I saw in Louisville, of course - so cute.

Time Magazine Mood Map

The latest issue of Time has a map of the states that shows how mood varies across the country.  You can take their quiz to see which state fits your personality.  This made me laugh (see below).  In the interest of full disclosure I will say that I took the quiz twice - not to get a specific result but to be more decided in my answers.  Apparently my true personality corresponds with where I was raised!

Rebecca Ray

We were in Louisville, Kentucky, this weekend because my husband had a conference at The Brown Hotel.  Their gift shop had some fabulous handbags and accessories by Rebecca Ray.  Their designs are decidedly equestrian (and classy!).  The hotel also had pictures of horses throughout the hallways and guest rooms.  I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

Thursday Tunes: Phoenix

Do you like the band Phoenix?  I love them.  And they're French!  Check them out on Austin City Limits here.

Dusty Miller

I saw some dusty miller at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and I was fascinated by it.  The silver of the leaves is so beautiful and the yellow flowers add a nice pop of color.  I'll have to find out if it would grow in my area...

{Photo from Google.}

Pattern + Source

A couple of weeks ago my jewelry class sat in on a presentation by a guest artist.  Debra Kayes is a teacher at Columbia College Chicago and the woman behind Pattern + Source.  She was very interesting, and I enjoyed viewing some of her work.  Pattern + Source archives patterns and their history, including Orla Kiely, traditional Islamic geometric design, and Marimekko.  Check it out.

Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are an interesting snack from North Carolina and thereabouts.  My husband likes them, and we found some raw peanuts - and the recipe was in Country Living - so I made some.  They turned out great!  They're soft and salty and interesting.

1 lb. raw peanuts
1/3 cup salt
Enough water to cover peanuts by two inches.

Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low; simmer 4 hours.

{I borrowed this picture from Google.}

Friday Featured Art: Lewiston Farmhouse

I am endlessly inspired by Joe's work.  Every time I check his web site for new paintings there is something fantastic.  I like all of his new pieces (of course), including Lewiston Farmhouse.

Thursday Text: Austenland

A serendipitous happening during our weekend in St. Louis was discovering that Austenland was playing at the Plaza Frontenac theater.  So I attended the film while my husband went to the new Robert Reich documentary - that was a great arrangement!  Now I'm thinking that I need to read the book.  Have you read it?  The movie was so silly and cute.  I love Keri Russell and JJ Feild.

Jerusalem

Also while we were in St. Louis we attended the new IMAX movie, Jerusalem.  It is showing at the St. Louis Science Center and a few other places around the county.  The film is presented by National Geographic, so the cinematography is gorgeous.  It explores some of the holiest sites in Jerusalem and their relation to the three major religions that exist there.  This is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and below is the Dome of the Rock.  Very fascinating.

Wilhelmina Peppermints

When we were in St. Louis recently we visited Global Foods Market, and I got some Wilhelmina Peppermints from the Dutch aisle.  They are so delicious and slightly soft.  Yum!

Indian Fabric

When my husband visited India this summer he brought me back some beautiful fabric.  I was really impressed with what he picked out.  Now I just have to decide what to make with it!  The top picture is two pieces of silk brocade and the bottom is a very unique piece of embroidered fabric.  The sheen on the silk is so pretty, and I really love the colorful embroidery.  He got me one meter of each - now what to make?

 

Friday Featured Art: Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles

My husband and I were remembering this exhibit the other day but could not remember where we had seen it.  Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles by John Vanderlyn is a set of 19th century oil paintings on display at the Met.  It's so interesting to stand in the middle.

Thursday Tunes: Peter and the Wolf

I can't believe I haven't posted about this before!  I loved Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf as a child, and the new (2006) academy-award-winning animated short version is outstanding.  Have you seen it?  It's very cleverly done, and Peter's gigantic blue eyes remind me of my nephews.

Cast Seed Pod

Here is the first completed piece from this semester's jewelry class.  We cast found objects in silver.  This is a seed pod.  I also cast a piece of lavender and a twig - I'll post them when they're cleaned up.  Fun!

Footstool Project

When I was home this summer I told my mom that I needed a footstool - and she gave me one!  I got some new legs from the home improvement store and stained them and then reupholstered the body.  I think it was OK before, but now it is a better height and goes with our living room so much more nicely.  (Try to ignore the carpet - I'm hoping it will go away one day...)

Euro Coins

I pulled out some of our leftover Euro coins to see if I could use them in my jewelry class, and I was interested in the designs.  Each member state issued a different design for each denomination.  Here are some examples: the French sower, a German oak tree, and Raphael's portrait of Dante from Italy.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: JazzberryBlue

JazzberryBlue is a fabulous Etsy shop that offers modern art prints.  I especially like the maps.  Here is one of Istanbul and one of the world's time zones.

Thursday Text: Love in Autumn

Sara Teasdale seems appropriate now that it's autumn - her seasonal poems are so delightful.

I sought among the drifting leaves,
The golden leaves that once were green,
To see if Love were hiding there
And peeping out between.

For thro' the silver showers of May
And thro' the summer's heavy heat,
In vain I sought his golden head
And light, fast-flying feet.

Perhaps when all the world is bare
And cruel winter holds the land,
The Love that finds no place to hide
Will run and catch my hand.

I shall not care to have him then,
I shall be bitter and a-cold --
It grows too late for frolicking
When all the world is old.

Then little hiding Love, come forth,
Come forth before the autumn goes,
And let us seek thro' ruined paths
The garden's last red rose.

Ford Transit Connect

I kind of want one of these for a family camping vehicle.  It would be small enough to drive easily but have space in the back to sleep!

Turquoise Necklace

I bought a string of lovely turquoise beads for $3 at the Wisconsin State Fair and turned them into this little necklace.  I wish I would have bought more!