Mak-ies

Arts and Crafts

With as much art history and specifically Feminist Art History as I have studied in life, I know that this is an extremely loaded topic for discussion.

I make things. Period. I have found that it is important for me to dedicate my life to making, I don't separate making from my everyday.  Sometimes this takes the form of baking, sometimes it is the repair of a shoelace or other item of clothing.  These skills are the very foundation for repairing and building on sculpture, painting, being, performing, etc.  I no longer find it necessary to separate the two, but instead I make art and I craft my destinations in life with my making.  The importance isn't the what it is in the end but how I got there.  What stories and memories were shared and made along the way.

It is with saying these things that I am about to embark on a new moment in my life; I am leaving the world of Arts Administration (maybe I will get back to it someday).  Mid April I will go back to work in my basement and I will work diligently to produce items for AB&C's Etsy shop.  I anticipate that I will keep building on the blog and hope to grow a small audience of makers and people interested in all things hand-made.

And just to be sure that you understand I am versed in the proper art history to back all this up- "Thanks Judy!"

Wool and Tin Tin Tin

It is tax season and I am pretty much on my own on the weekends.  This has been both a good and a bad thing.  While I have been sticking to business getting to work on some creative ventures, there have also been a few little hunts.  When I say hunts, it is because I enjoy looking through what many may consider junk, in the hopes of finding treasures.  I have a handful of good friends who are with me on this.  The other handful are currently using hand sanitizer just thinking about it.  

Actually I knew that AB and I were going to have a lot in common when we exchanged thrift shop stories.  It was a huge sigh of relief and he has helped me to locate the best spots on the East side of Madison. One of my favorite is the Treasure Mart.

The people watching is wonderful and there are always amazing items and the pricing system is interesting.  The longer an item is there, the more the price goes down.  I marched in yesterday to a full parking lot, which is somewhat abnormal.  Most times it is occupied by me and the ladies who run the T Mart.  I saw many wonderful things, one of which, I wish I had taken a quick Iphone photo of, but alas I didn't.  I will describe to the best of my abilities: The item was a yellow sweatshirt that had been appliqued.  The front had large and small bats seemingly flying around and on the back, was a funky old broad appliqued in different plaid fabrics wearing a rhinestone necklace.  It was extremely well done- kinda of wishing I bought it to wear tomorrow.  

Instead I went home with a new (well old) hat.  The hat is navy wool and fits nicely atop the head. There is a small embellishment on the front right that has a sideways chevron and a little red ribbon.  I am currently contemplating the ensemble that it will be worn with.

My second purchase is really three in one! They might be just a tad on the Donna Dewberry (my only real gripe is her use of styrofoam plates) side, but I really enjoy the colors of the brushstrokes- and it is done by hand.  That is rare these days. 

Three metal tins, one missing a lid handle- so I am sizing it now with a goat's milk lid.  These will hide my sugar, flour and other dry goods.  

And the best part of this shopping experience... well besides the missed opportunity for the best halloween shirt ever... I would say that the free gift of dog treats with the purchase was what made the day.  When I got home, Marcel was on the case and demanded to see his treasure. After, all the "Charlie Bears" are what inspired me to make Marcel's dog treats.

Easy Bread, Think Ahead Bread

Over the winter break, my father handed off a recipe for Homemade Bread.

It is easy, delicious and while I was first insistent that it could be made in whole wheat form, I have since relented and allowed this bread to be as it is.

So here is the final product, but keep in mind that you must think ahead cause this thing needs time to rise!

Day 1:
3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cups tap water (luke warm)

I use the kitchen aid mixer with the bread hook attachment.  Place the flour, salt and yeast into the stainless steel bowl.  Mix on low and then add water slowly.  Use a spatula to make sure all the dry flour is incorporated.  Cover the bowl with foil or plastic wrap if you can't stand surprises.  Leave this on the counter for a day.  Do not refrigerate.

In the photo-ed bread we added rosemary because we had some. It went nicely into the mix!

Day 2:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Place a covered pot with a lid in the oven (be sure that your pot can handle this- the first thing I tried, changed colors and smoked- we now only use enameled cast iron) and preheat for 30 minutes.  Take out your dough and roll out on flour, and roll into a ball.  At 30 minutes place the dough into the pot and cover.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Then remove the lid and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.  Pull it out and move to a cooling rack.  Allow to cool slightly before serving.  We pop ours into a bag and keep it in the fridge. There are no preservatives in this so eat it fast or keep it in the fridge.

Thanks Dad!

March means Spring is on its way...

We kicked off the month of March with some really cold weather.  I took the "beast" to the dog park and despite the tricky conditions, he had a blast, and I just felt arctic blasted.  It was good for us both though, because when we got home, he slept and I worked on some projects.

I made a small birthday D.I.Y. (I will not show photos because it will ruin the surprise- maybe next time.) I worked on wrapping up some long overdue packages to a good friend and I started a nice pile of "thanks you's".
I checked on the plants- it is seedling time on top of our fridge!  

This cold weather is perfect for baking and prepping some meals for the week ahead.  So while AB and I made up a nice butternut squash soup, there was a little bit of squash left-over for dog treats.  Marcel hardly shies away from fruits and vegetables so an initial sniff meant this was a good choice.

And the finished product:

They work to get the dog's attention!

And he even obey's commands!

(My hand is intact- we are working on "gentle.")