Plant Hanger Upcycling

 A new job has cut into my random crafty arty project time, but I had a moment this weekend to make a weird little plant hanger for my new spider plant bought today at the Baltimore Farmers' Market. The many, many things left by the former owners of my house (the purchase was an estate sale) included the iron stand (an old lamp? -- very heavy) and the faded purple ribbon that, thanks to a little knotting, became the hanger.  Not gorgeous perfection, but functional for now, good enough to give the little plant room to grow.  

European Starling

A birder friend of mine correctly identified this bird as a starling (specifically, it is a European Starling) which is a level of success that doesn't usually happen with my representational painting - so I'm pleased about that.  

A Rare Instance of Successful Baking

I'm not sure I have ever actually made cupcakes before, but I had a sudden hankering a few weeks ago when faced with a cupcake tray at a store.  And so I made cupcakes that, despite going off recipe (substituing yogurt for milk, olive oil for vegetable oil) came out looking and tasting like yummy cakes.  

I also went off-script with the icing, opting to just melt some chocolate chips and mix in yogurt - which also, amazingly, came out quite well, a little more mellow than the hardcore sugar of traditional icing.  

And yes, I forgot to take a picture before I had sampled one.  Yum.  

Side note: those paper cup liners are the best.  No trying to pry them out of the tray or messing with greasing and flouring - they were worth the tiny investment.  

Feisty Females of Fells Point tour

Last Saturday, some friends and I braved crazy winds (and lovely sunshine) to attend the Feisty Females of Fells Point tour run by Baltimore Heritage.  Covering a broad range of women over hundreds of years, our guide Robin talked to us about (among many others): 

Mary Elizabeth Lange (1784 - 1882), a French-speaking Catholic originally from Cuba, who founded the first African American religious congregation in the United States, the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore.  Pope Francis recently declared her venerable, another step forward in becoming a saint.  

Barbara Mikulski, former US Senator of Maryland and former resident of Fells Point, who found her way into politics by way of successful activism to keep a highway from being built in Fells Point.  

Billie Holiday, American jazz singer, who spent part of her turbulent childhood in Baltimore.  The house she lived in now has a plaque, and the street features several beautiful murals of Lady Day.  

We also passed by several women-owned restaurants. Sofia's Place European Deli is owned by Sofia Para who has been selling perogies and other tasty items in The Broadway Market for over thirty years.  Cocina Luchadoras's owner made waves more recently by posting a sign in Spanish that suggested President Trump is no intellectual giant, which generated death threats from those who disagreed, and brisk sales from those who wanted to offer support after those threats.  

The tour ended near the Baltimore American Indian Center, a nonprofit originally founded by Lumbee Tribal members in the late 60s to support the many members of Native American communities then living in Fells Point. Much of the American Indian population eventually moved away from the city, and the nonprofit began to focus on heritage preservation. Archeological evidence points to Paleo-Indians living in the Baltimore area from at least the 10th millennium BC. 

Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams Exhibit

Some friends and I went to the amazing Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams exhibit at the BMA shortly after it opened.  As the exhibit flyer notes, "Born in Baltimore in 1948, Scott grapples with profound social, historical, racial, economic, and personal challenges that concern society at large in dazzling beadwork, sculpture, textiles, jewelry, printmaking, and performance."  I strongly recommend checking it out.  

Killed a Tree to Write a Book

 

Today I printed out the uncompleted draft of the possibly endless novel I've been writing, off and on (mostly off), for years.  

So this is what 89,000 words, 280 pages, looks like when you print it out.  It's a big stack, and drained an entire printer cartridge. (Note to self: buy less crappy printer someday).  

There are, I am aware, massive problems that need to be corrected. The largest of these is writing at least 50 pages to complete the (in the words of Anne Lamott) shitty first draft.  There are also many, many hanging and sometimes contradictory plot threads that require trimming and weaving.  

I am hoping that being able to hold the book in my hands and scribble on the pages will allow me to hold it in my head and actually finish it.  Aspirations are low: I've no dreams of publication much less fame, fortune, and a Pulitzer.  I just want to finish it because I need to know what happens to these characters, need to figure it out, if only for myself.  

Carroll County Art's Council PEEPShow

Below, a selection of entries from the Carroll County Arts Council's PEEPShow.  Now in its 17th year, it is a popular fundraiser.  Expect long lines, free admission (though you are encouraged to buy voting tokens so you can vote for your favorites), free stickers, and great fun.  So. Many. Marshmallows.  

Paintings Made in Baltimore

More of the art backlog from the last few years.  These paintings were created after I moved to Baltimore.  I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I could easily extract from the stack in the art closet.  All are acrylic on gessoed heavy paper.  

Screenwriter Anita Loos

Kitchen Dancing

Water Witch

Doris

Violets

Balloons

2022 Furniture Resurrection Projects

The home I bought in 2022 was an estate sale, and came with So Much Stuff, much of which has been useful.  I have tools and nails for almost every occasion and didn't need to buy, for instance, a new lawn mower.  Some less than-beautiful-items were also left behind, many of which were tossed (the nasty white shag rug went away fast), some sold (several small tables and two southwestern chairs that were stashed in the attic), and some were restored.  Below are before, during and after shots of three such repairs.  

Potter's End Table

In the basement, I found a simple wood table, covered in dust and clay, and some knife marks, as it was likely used by a potter who at one point probably used the basement as a studio.  I still have a 1950s era kiln in the basement, and may always, since it is enormous and heavy.  Since the table (like most of the dated, but solid furniture left behind) was made of all wood, I decided to refinish it.  Twas my first refinishing attempt in quite some time. 

Before: 

During (a LOT of sanding):

After:

It came out a bit more orange than I would have like, but otherwise, I was quite pleased.  It spent a long, long time outside as polyurethane stinks for a long time, I can report.  

Coffee Table:

The coffee table had not been relegated to the basement, so it was cleaner, but had peeling layer of clearish finish, and that was about it.  I forgot to take a before photo, so in-process will have to suffice. 

During:

With the stripper on it

After sanding:

First coat of orangy stain (neighbor's cat supervising), which was followed by a darker stain to tone it down:

After: 

Porch Chairs:

The porch chairs had been left outside for a long long while, and one was split in the middle.  But some glue and several coats of exterior paint, and they've got new life and use again. 

Before:

During:

After: