What I am Thankful for

As I reflect on the happenings of 2013, I have many things for which to offer thanks:

I am so grateful for many of the blogs that I have been able to follow: Kat and Susi at Just Crafty Enough and their Iron Craft Challenges; Lisa over at Bunny Log who introduced me to SwapBot and Iron Craft but more importantly for sharing her doodling; also to Leslie over at Comfortable Shoes Studios for her technique videos and product reviews. It has been nice to connect to these online friends and families through our craft/art adventures.

I have been grateful for my teachers: Shanna Spradlin Yarbrough, Barbara Mauriello and Carolyn Chadwick from The Center for Book Arts in New York City. Every day I create something in paper, I remember rules, techniques, jokes and all sorts of other tidbits to make me a better artist (or at least something to make me giggle in those times of paper crafting stress).

I have been grateful for those friends who have supported me in my paper endeavors: thoughtful gifts of art supplies when you had no idea on what to buy me for the holidays; those special commissions; purchasing those handmade items that you pretended to really, really need.

Even though, I haven't been able to work at the theater in a while, I am grateful that I have been able to fill my time with creative endeavors. While my bank account suffered, my imagination and creative spirit soared.

Finally, I am grateful for my health. I have things under control but more importantly, my eyesight, hearing and onset arthritis have all been kept to nuisances rather than concerns.

Tomorrow, I will share with you my resolutions for 2014 and my decisions regarding artwork, crafting, and blogging for the New Year.

Shigoto-Hajime 2009

According to Wikipedia, celebrating the new year in Japan also means paying special attention to the "first" time something is done in the new year. Hatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the year. Before sunrise on January 1, people often drive to the coast or climb a mountain so that they can see the first sunrise of the new year. Hatsumōde is the first trip to a shrine or temple. Many people visit a shrine after midnight on December 31 or sometime during the day on January 1. If the weather is good, people often dress up or wear kimono. Other "firsts" that are marked as special events include shigoto-hajime (the first work of the new year), keiko-hajime (the first practice of the new year), hatsugama (the first tea ceremony of the new year), and the hatsu-uri, (the first shopping sale of the new year).



So, this post celebrates the first weekend project of 2009.

It all starts with a clean studio.


A clean glue station.

A Clean Work Station

A Clean Cutting Station

A Cleaner Works-in-Progress and Drying Station


The first real order of business was to make Rice Starch Paste. I always make small batches of paste when I know I will be needing it. It never lasts very long and I end up throwing it away after every project. Therefore, I make the smallest batch each time. I get my Rice Starch from Talas and follow a different set of instructions that are not listed on the package.


I use 5 Tbs of rice starch for 1 cup of hot water. I make a slurry with the paste and 3-5 teaspoons of cold water. If you put the hot water directly into the dry paste, it seizes up and you never get out all of the clumps. After adding the hot water, you put the pan on a low heater and whisk until your arms fall off. When the paste thickens and turns translucent, take it off the heat and let it cool. It will thicken even more. If you want a thinner paste, you can use 3 (or 4) Tbs or rice paste. I prefer the thicker variety, personally. Keep the paste covered when not in use. I will last 3-4 days. If you do not have a lid for your paste pot, you can cover the paste with cold water and place a piece of cling wrap or wax paper on top (in order to prevent a skin). When you want to use it again, simply pour off the water (which should be riding on top of the paste), stir and Bob's your uncle. Some people put their paste pot in the refrigerator but I never have done that. I am afraid that I might get it mixed up with my morning oatmeal.


Put the kettle on, we are making paste

Making the slurry.

The final product cooling.


P.S. I always use a plastic container from my local Chinese food restaurant. I have a fancy for good Hot-and-Sour soup and keep the container. The small container (pint) is perfect for glue pots.

New Year's Resolution

My New Year’s Resolution this year is to be more creative. I have taken a giant step of faith in my ability to do so by cancelling my cable. Yep, that’s right. I no longer have cable/TV access.

I realized that I was spending more time watching TV when I could have been designing and being creative. I have so many unfinished projects and so many projects waiting to be done that I decided that this was the year that I would complete the projects and sign up for more swap-bot swaps.

I did renew my Netflix subscription so I can still watch movies when I want. In so doing, I am still saving about $120 a month by cancelling my cable subscription. When did watching TV get so expensive?

I will miss some of my favorite shows though. Top Chef, the new season (or not) of Project Runway, HGTV and Food Network. Oh well, maybe I will be able to follow them on the computer.

In the meantime, I will continue to teach myself Japanese with Rosetta Stone when I start jonesing for the television.

I think that I am already going through withdrawals and it is only the first half-day. Hopefully, I will get used to it. I will miss the Fox Soccer Network though. Maybe I can stay late at work and watch TV there! Just sayin . . .