LizzyHouse

Continuing the metaphor

I've given more thought to the clean hands metaphor.

you have to be willing to accept the help.

I've had people close to me, on several occasions, over the span of many years, do things that hurt themselves, and when you reach out to them, they hurt you, or punish you, or make you feel like an idiot, because they feel guilty, or ashamed, or a mess, or whatever... they push and push you away, and then when you finally put your hands up and say fine, you can do it yourself, then for some reason they turn around and say that no one ever helps them. They become my least favorite thing to become. Indignant.

again I have been on both sides of this

It's a terrible dance we all seem to do. It's worse than the Elaine.

what's it about?

is it just pride? I think it might be. Or is it sadness and guilt pent up with pride? Seems to be a lethally passive aggressive combination.

I think I am too independent sometimes. I've had to do most everything for myself in my little life, so when there is an opportunity to allow a set of clean hands, not in printmaking (i'll always take those), but in life, I think that I rarely do. In this case, not out of guilt, or sadness, but more like... are you saying that I can't do this myself?

because I can...

It's a fine line though, like most things it seems. I am alone and must continue to do things and make things happen for myself, but I also have to be willing to step outside of that and maybe even ask for help on occasion...

we have to remember that we are not above help.

buttons and bows, but mostly buttons.

Ok. I'm sorry. I just have like two more things I am going to add to my shop. But this is something that I have been HARASSED about, so here they are! Buttons. Who knew? and they are OUTFOXED buttons! and the newly beloved Yeti jumped in the bag too.

this would make a bomb dot com stocking stuffer.

Speaking of stockings and Outfoxed...

From now until midnight tomorrow download the Peep Boot stocking pattern or the OUTFOXED images for embroidery, or both, for half off! Just enter the code HOLIDAYSEWING

***Holiday Card Update***

the holiday cards have been a huge overnight success, literally! So much so that they are almost gone! Here are the numbers so you can swipe some before they are holiday history. Also, they have been shipping crazy fast! Peeps have been getting them next day. Thank you USPS!

Seasons Greetings: 7

Merry Christmas: 9

Peace on Earth: 10

Combo Pack: 2 (but I don't mind breaking down a set of each for a few more combos if you are interested)

Also, Toronto Peeps, the workroom will have them in the store! so don't get them from me!

 

Holiday Cards!

My Christmas cards finally got in! I don't know what held them up so long, but they got here just in time to still be on time!

There are three different designs! Seasons greetings, Peace on Earth, and Merry Christmas. 

They come in packs of 12, as an individual design, or in a combination pack with 4 of each design! Each card comes with a coordinating Paper Source envelope! I love colored envelopes! 

you can find them here! 

I hope you all had a great holiday! I was completely consumed by the Hunger Games series, and was glad for it. 

 

My Alphabet.

I have a list of things that I love.

I have a list of recipes I want to make.

I have a list of places I want to go.

I have a list of artwork I want to do.

This piece is on that list, and is now crossed off that list. I have always wanted to do an alphabet. I don't know why... I think it's something that I started thinking about as a child, and contemplated as a printmaker, and got excited about as a collector of nouns, regular and proper.

This print is a collection of images that represent the alphabet to me. Like if we were to sit down and play a word association game with each letter of the alphabet, these are the things that I would say.

Here are the words:

A. is for Airplane, B. is for Bee, C. is for Cake, D. is for Dress (that Jana made me), E. is for East of Eden, F. is for Fox, G. is for Gemstones, H. is for House, I. is for Incandescent, J. is for June, K. is for Kitten, L. is for Link, M. is for Mail, N. is for Nintendo, O. is for Olympics, P. is for Printmaking, Q. is for Quilts, R. is for Ribbon, S. is for Sewing Machine, T. is for Top Bun, U. is for Ukulele, V. is for Vince Guaraldi, W. is for Washi Tape, X. is for X-height, Y. is for Yarn, and Z. is for Zelda.

This 18x24 print is in an edition of 125. It is a two color screen print, hand printed by yours truly. It comes packaged in a mailing tube ready as a gift to give, or to unwrap for yourself.

The first 10 buyers will receive a free gocco print of T is for Top Bun. A personal favorite, and a $15 value.

All prints will ship on the 5th of December!

Find the Print here!

clean hands.

This past week I made my triumphant return to printmaking!

When I graduated at the end of 2008, I didn't realize that I was in a way walking away from it. My focus has been on fabric design, and pattern writing, and teaching, and moving, and other things. None of these things were meant to be so permanent. The only thing that was ever supposed to be permanent was the printmaking, and it was the first thing to go. What?

So some years have passed away, and my pining to print is no more, because I am.

Yesterday I was working on a new piece, a work that I have always wanted to make, and I found myself getting ink on my hands. This ink, would then get on my paper. I was in the studio alone and managed to get everything in order again, but while I struggled I was able to think about printmaking, and the program I had completed those years ago, and the people I had gotten close to because of our chosen degrees, and close proximity of the presses.

The thing that kept coming to me was that I needed a set of clean hands. At school, any time that I needed a set of clean hands, they were there. Or you would bring and extra set with you, or, you would have an inky look of desperation and someone would go over to the sink wash their hands and be at your aid. I was also a set of clean hands more often than I can recall. That's the kind of group we had.

There's a metaphor there that I have been unwrapping.

When we are in the middle of things, that are difficult, or painful, or covered in ink, we need someone to step in. Sometimes we can call for them, and sometimes we are too in it to see that we need help. That's when that set of clean hands swoops in, and holds things up until you are back on track, or find a pair of gloves, so they can get back to what they were working on.

But it goes both ways. Sometimes you need the clean hands, and sometimes you are the clean hands.

I'll keep thinking about it. You think about it too.

and just like that, I feel like myself.

 

flying geese

I've been doing a lot of baking. It keeps my house warm, and I am making food, AND baking/cooking for me is a really good creative outlet to give me a boost. Also, I like having food ready for people when they come over. Or making food for people to come over.... It's just all around good.

This past weekend, I made little curried vegetable hand pies.

I've been working especially hard on perfecting my pie crust. It seems like a good place to start in perfecting any sort of baking. I've read a lot about what makes a truly good pie crust, and the grand sum of it is temperature. It just has to be cold. In Baking by James Peterson, he says that a dough can even be over worked and still turn out alright just as long as the fat (butter, shortening etc...) stays cold. This has become especially easy for me as the temperature has dropped dramatically, and I don't keep my heater on when the sun is out. So when I break the butter into the flour with my hands, my body temperature doesn't melt the butter. Also, I keep a dispenser of water in my refrigerator, so the water stays icy cold. I actually just put the bowl under the spout and have gotten to a point where I know what 3 tablespoons looks like.

Peterson also goes on to talk about most types of pie crust looking like a "shaggy mess", and only require enough liquid to be able to roll out your dough. He states that all brands of flour absorb differently so it's just something that you just get a feel for.

I could go on and on about what he said. The man is a genius and an expert, and the book is an incredible tool, as well as a good read.

Beyond getting the dough to where it is supposed to be to roll it out, I started experimenting with foliating the dough. I think a little closer to Christmas I am going to make an actual laminated dough for croissants, but for my purposes now, I just wanted to add more layers to my pie crust to make it flaky without having to use a fat that does that naturally (lard). It's really easy enough, just make sure your dough is cold when you are rolling it out, and then fold it over itself a couple of times then roll it out completely. More layers. Maybe I will do a post demonstrating this...

anyway. These have been my breakfast and lunch for the past couple of days, and I've been serving them/ eating them with Greek yogurt. It goes so well with the spices I used with the vegetables. They are filling and warm, and just the right thing for weather like this. And terrificly enough, they freeze really well!

Thinking about it, these would be really simple to make vegan, but I've found that vegan butter substitutes melt pretty quickly even in low temps, so I'd just be extra cautious about that...

 

 

here I am.

I owe you all a post. I know that.

I got a new sewing machine. I got a new camera.  I went to market. Several family members got married. Halloween came and went. I've been prepping to start printing... meaning spending money on supplies (!). I've been busy and stressed and on occassion quietly happy.

like today. I spent the day alone designing quilts using Hello Pilgrim (digitally, I don't have fabric yet) and listening to Electric Light Orchestra. A good day.

A few updates before the visual interest of this post:

The Colorist pattern is pretty much finished. It will go to the printer at the beginning of next week (MONDAY!). It was due to go a month ago, but it didn't and now it is, and that's that. As I had to put it off, I just kept telling myself over and over that you'd probably still want to make it a month later than expected...

Tree Skirt Pattern. The pattern is essentially done. I just decided to hand quilt it so it's taking a little longer to get finished. Would you still be interested in the pattern without my finished pics so you can get to making it?

I designed some Christmas cards that should be here sometime next week... we wish you a Yeti Christmas... chew on that till next week.

I've changed my days. It's getting dark so early that I am going to bed really early so that I can wake up early. I start my day in the same minutes as the sun.

If I think of anything else I will add it later...

So here are some pics, all from my new beautiful wonderful camera, that I am so glad that I finally just made myself but. Just so worth it.

tree skirt pieces

yes. I bought another Hello Kitty machine. Truth be told, I'm not actually that much of a Hello Kitty fan. I always liked Badtz Maru better... but, I like a cute machine. This is actually a really great machine that just happens to have Hello Kitty on it. Also, it felt a little more Dutch, like Miffy, than Hello Kitty, and I thought that was cool. This machine without Hello Kitty on it is only available in Spain... the box was in Spanish.

I love it.

sisters in my office.

I'll be back sooner than later...