Fort Nacho: A Survival Guide

Hello, my Hot Tamales! This week required serious silliness to counteract the serious business. The following photographic essay is packed with survival tips for the urban nomad. You can play along at home: The only requirements for this adventure are bed sheets and friends as dumb as you are:

Solid construction is of utmost importance--the elements of an apartment can be brutal: unpredictable weather patterns, dust buffalo and drafty windows. It's wild out there.

These pennants serve two purposes: they provide essential pinks and structural stability.

Garland will improve your fortress' integrity and deflect most birds of prey.

He is not napping--he's trancing. All proper caravans must have a medium.

Choose supplies carefully. The winter is long.

Blinking Christmas lights allow you to communicate effectively with other forts in your vicinity.

The Boyfriend Bartender is an essential member of the the caravan
even if he only knows one recipe: hooch & rocks.

Do not rule out knit equipment: Crocheted bedspreads provide proper ventilation
and an excellent view of the ceiling sky.

VOILA INTRUDER!

Stuff That's Totally Doin' It For Me Right Now

Hello Cupcakes! It's been a long week: time to Juice up and get ready for a rocket fuel weekend! Here's whats totally doin' it for me right now:

These bold and wild shamanic journey paintings by Paulo Amaringo:


My catza muffin, Mr. Milo Guy. Note to self: Take luxurious extra adorable nap.


This crazy cool fabric pumpkin tutorial. I'd love to make a whole row for my couch! Velvety goodness...


And finally these earthy inspired jewelry creations from Talks2theTrees.

What is inspiring you, starlings?

Advice For Young Girls: *Giggle Snort*

Summer Sanctuary: Cabin In The Woods

*Last week I enjoyed a three-day-long holiday with my family at the cozy cabin home of my Muffin's family! Both the company and the scenery were the best a girl could ask for. I adore the northern parts of Wisconsin: the landscapes, the wildlife, the flora and the weather. It was a treat to be whisked away from over-stuffed-in boxes and screaming city busses to a place where you can ACTUALLY see stars, the soil is loose and sandy and between loon songs you can hear a pin drop. We spent time with our toes in the lake sipping strong coffee and watching a muggy summer moon-rise. And most importantly--there was space to just Be. Here are a few images from my recharge weekend:

"The Dirt Smells Good Here..."

I can't wait to go back in the fall to watch the leaves change before everything in the woods tucks in for winter. Now dearies tell me; where is your hideaway?

Until Next Time--

Much Joy & Merry Making!~*

16 Facts: If I Were a Cupcake, I'd Eat Myself

Holy Memes, Batman! I was approached with two memes today--one from the fabulous Shell and another from my Sis Anna! So, I am going combine the two to try to create one Epic ULTRA MEME list of 16 facts and Truths...Can She Do it!?

1. I am a neat freak. I can't do anything in my studio or concentrate on homework unless everything is in it's place. I feel that what surrounds you reflects what's going on inside of you. Obsessive anyone?

2. I hate grapes. Once when I was youngling in girl scouts I was made to stick my hand in a bag of peeled grape "eyeballs". Never got over the association.

3. I once had a strange dream in which I was wandering around an abandoned Victorian mansion in some sort of trapeze artist outfit. I was walking down one if the houses darkened hallways and came across an oil painting of Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance) in period dress. I stopped in front of it and suddenly Gerard moved and said, "Molly. You've gotta build a church." How awesomely weird is that?!

4. I'm an awful brush care-taker. Most artists baby their brushes, as you should since they are your bread and butter. But I am AWFUL at rinsing them out and soaping them properly. I'll let them sit in a bucket of goopy paint water for days. Oopsy!

5. Even though I absolutely abhor guns and everything they stand for, I use gun imagery in my writing all the time. There's just something terrifyingly interesting about gun metaphors. Wacky.

6. On the subject of firearms, if I had a choice between being shot or stabbed? I chose stabbed.

7. Tom Jones is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. What's new, pussycat?

8. Speaking of which, I worry about my cats dying. They are my Companions and can't imagine what I'll do when I have to come across their body someday.

9. Anna and I have plans to move in together when we're old ladies--hopefully into a big old barn and call it "The Art Farm". There we'll live with our Muffins and herd of cats and make music and paint and go deaf together.

10. I am terrified of doctors. Just don't like 'em. I probably won't go see a doctor unless my right arm falls off--I can't sew with my left hand.

11. I L.O.V.E creepy plastic religious figurines! Especially ones that are made to sit on top of television sets and dashboards.

12. I feel awful about my prejudice against stinkilly wealthy people. I am just rubbed the wrong way by waste and arrogance. It's odd, seeing as a majority of my living is made by fulfilling the whims of yuppies. I know it's wrong, but I can't help it.

13. Every time I watch Edward Scissor Hands, I cry. I blame it entirely on the music. :)

14. If I were a cupcake--I would eat myself.

15. I order Bloody Mary's mostly because I just really love pickles. And I'm a "spear" sort of gal. (There's an excellent bar near me that does a Bloody Mary that serves 3 people and comes with celery, olives, onions, PICKLES, sausage sticks and cheese whips!!)

16. I had a gay man try to pick me up at a club because he thought I was a transvestite. It's my own fault for having a penchant for grandma-red-lipstick. It's true--gay men have impeccable taste. ;)

*WHEW!*

Now I pass it on to you, my pretties! What are your deepest darkest secrets?

Goddess Giveaway!

On a long winters night there is nothing quite like presents! So, on with the Goddess Give Away! It's a stash, a cache of goddess treasures assembled to start the new year by stirring your creative cauldron! This give away includes an original 7"x7" assemblage work, "Heart Beat"(lovingly made and ready to hang!), a bouquet of beautiful vintage metallic, handmade and scrap booking papers, a sheet of star stickers, a pile of petite sea shells, a scarlet brocade pocket mirror and a string of lovely red lamp beads.

To win these goddess goodies simply leave a comment by Saturday, December 27th (midnight!) stating how you will be tending to your creative juices in the new year! My Muffin will randomly draw a name to see who wins the loot! Tell your blogosphere buddies to scoot on over and drop their name in the "jar". :)

I hope you all had a superb solstice,
are surviving the storms and
are enjoying your holiday preparations and parties!

Merry Making and Many Blissings, Friends!~*

P.S. My big sister has jumped on the blogging bandwagon! She'll be documenting her musical adventures (as well as misadventures) and creative gravy in her new blog home. Leave her a housewarming comment at www.hobojabasa.blogspot.com. :)

"The Universe Wants To Play!" + Bee Keeper

I was drying my hands in the library's 2nd floor washroom when I noticed it. Someone had written a message on the wall with permanent maker in bold letters. It said:

THE UNIVERSE WANTS TO PLAY!

It's no burning bush--but I don't suppose signs come any clearer than that. Whoever or whatever is trying to speak--I hear you! I keep tossing ideas on an ever growing pile labeled "Someday" and blow them off for homework or cleaning grout or some other silly chore that HAS to be done. So today I am setting aside some time to play--to dabble around in my studio and glue sequins to whatever I wish! I think I'll make a visit to the swing set near my apartment!I have also decided that I am making a moment for "us". My dearest and I have been so consumed with reflection papers, work schedules, deadlines, and election news that we haven't spent much time together. We live together, but lately we haven't been living together. The conversation has grown flat and we're getting surly because we're simply overloaded. It's easy to take comforts like having morning coffee in our yellow parlor or a good post-class-bitch-fest for granted. I'm going to build an "US" altar and devote some mental space to thinking about and spending time with my Muffin.

But for now, I'm off to play hopscotch with the cosmos!

"Bee Keeper" by Molly Roberts. Acrylic, ink, & found objects on wood.