why schmin is off the family barbecue list

Because he'll lie in wait to do this to you.

Even little baby cousins aren't safe.

love and recognition

The tiny boy I am holding in the picture I posted yesterday came over and gave me flowers for Mother's Day.

Then he proceeded to make us a nice dinner.

The three of us, me, him, and Froggy, continued our 80s moviethon by watching Wild Style. If you like classic hip hop, the lowest possible budget filmmaking, graffitied subway cars, Fab Five Freddy, head spins, what passed for clothes in the 80s, thick New York accents, and are tired of real actors mucking around, rent this movie. Rent it even if you don't like these things. It's one you can't help but love. (Shout out to my girl Lesley: This is the hip hop that makes me hang on to my card. ;) )

Schmin is in the unfortunate position of being hit with a double whammy. My birthday and Mother's Day hang around together like double egg yolks. He's saving up some chips for my birthday, for which I have grandly requested a serger, to which he has replied, What the hell is that, Mom?

In my early years of motherhood, I didn't relate to Mother's Day, feeling too young and happening for it. People would hand me cards or flowers and I would think, No kidding? The holiday seemed more appropriate and suitable for my grandmother.

I said "early years," but that's not correct. It's only been in the last few that I've come around and thought, Oh, right, it's Mother's Day. Someone may want to feed me. I'm cool with that.

But I never expect anything. I find it too much a day of guilt and pressure and I don't want to add to that. It's also a day that can be hard on people who have lost their moms, which I know first hand. And, really, I'm not entirely sold on the idea of being lauded for doing something you're supposed to do in the first place, like mothering a child after you've given birth to it. I mean, it's not like you don't know going in that you're about to spend years busting granite. Just look at the time your mother had raising you.

Still, I know that all we humans are looking for in this world is a little love and recognition, and who am I to buck that? Hell, I haven't even managed to staunch the need in my own self. With the years does come realization, and better sense -- I wouldn't want it said about me now what my grandmother used to say when I was a stubborn kid, that I ain't got the sense God gave a fool. From this perspective, I see that mothers bear a lot, and go above and beyond a lot, and cry in the night and get up and do it anyway a lot. I wish all of us as many happy Mother's Days as we can stand, with a cherry on top.

happy mother's day, ma

The two of us, we miss you so much. There's nothing we wouldn't give to spend this day with you.

comment of the week

Our Comment of the Week comes from orchidphile, regarding Thursday's post:

You are so right about Prince. His heels would be so misunderstood.

Hilarious and true!

Even though I won't do a Comment of the Week every week, I think I'll make something out of it. At the end of the year I'll put the names of all the COTW people into a drawing and send something nice to the winner. Yep. That's exactly what I'll do.

i recall central park in fall

I know I'm about to turn 42, but damn, should I really be downloading this?

old school redux: the family creative workshop

I'm cynical about our time. Industries that used to at least nod to creativity and art -- see the music industry, sigh -- are now soullessly mercenary. Publishing is much more about the bottom line than it was 30 years ago. Partly it's understandable, as everything rises in cost. But it's also sad, and very compromising, how much we now bow to profit. There are so many artists, from musicians to filmmakers to people in the visual arts, who "made it" during the '70s but wouldn't be given a chance here in the age of homogenized plasticity. (I can't even imagine Prince breaking into the scene today, not even if he tried to race up on it in his little red corvette. And Joni? Well, pretty in that crunchy armpit hair kinda way, but she ain't no Leona Lewis, so forget about Blue, we can't use it.)

Today, The Family Creative Workshop would stand about as good a chance of being published as Sly and the Family Stone would of getting a record deal. And it's not just that it was published, but how: with serious production value. Representing countless artists and artisans (I love the biographical sketches); presenting hundreds of crafts, culinary items, games, and activities; and coming in at more than 3000 pages, it was undoubtedly a massive undertaking. Every volume could make for endless fun, and each one entertains while instructing, which is no easy feat. (Volume 13: Pinstriping to Puzzles. Volume 20: Tea to Toys. Volume 15: Rosemaling to Scrimshaw -- I've never rosemaled, that I know of, but please, bring it on.)

One of these good old days I'm going to kick back and make the blackwork owl (pictured below) while sipping on the homemade ginger beer featured in the 3rd volume. That's provided I don't get carried away making Ojo de Dios first.

Amazing things lie within these books, and the covers alone are riots of color and play. I can't do them justice, but these are some of my favorites.

There are other great ones, but have a look inside. (It was all I could do not to photograph every single page of every single volume to show you, so a lot of of pictures follow. You know the drill, click for big.)

Have I firmly established that The Family Creative Workshop, this encyclopedia of just about every craft known to nimble fingers, is a treasure? I hope so. I rarely say that anything beats the Internet, and I don't dare say it now, but Family Creative Workshop comes as close as you can get with craft-related materials. Due to its limitations as a set of books, it can't outshine the vastness of the Internet, but it can be a wonderful companion to it. You can't Google something you've never heard of. The set provides a great deal of stand-alone information, and its solid intros to little-known crafts can be used for further exploration online.

More re/views on The Family Creative Workshop:
Apartment Therapy
Tacky Living
CraftStylish

they go around the waist and they show good taste

Oh, that Lilia. She twisted my arm until I cried out, I'll join! I'll join! and signed up for this:

A breezy swap, dreamt up by Abby over at A Feathered Nest, which will indeed prove good summer fun. I can already feel it. Since my move, I've lost my sewing momentum (I'm a peep disoriented), and I'm thinking a cute, simple project like this could restore it. These could be famous last words, seeing as I've never made an apron, but I'm betting I'm safe to assume ease provided I don't go nuts with bells and whistles.

Let the swapping begin. Speaking of which, Natalie just finished her Bend-the-Rules Swap (deets on her blog). She received an adorable bag. She made an adorable bag, too, but she hasn't posted pictures of it yet.

Good swapping juju all around.

all fabric, all the time

I mean, please. All the time? Every hour? Every day? Fabric?

I am so there.

have at it

Yesterday's Sunday morning feeding frenzy was brought to you courtesy of Jet Rag. If it's not an LA institution, it ought to be.

Every Sunday they unload a warehouse of used clothes onto their parking lot and charge a dollar per item. I'd never been there when they rip open bags. People stand and wait for them to do this, then swarm whatever pours out. The rule is to grab for your life, then sort the stuff and see if you really want it once you've gained the safety of your own little spot off to the side.

I didn't do the big grab thing, just snapped a picture of the action and kept sifting through what was already out. I came up with some pieces to use for fabric/felting and maybe a dress or two to alter. My grand total was ten bucks.

I also shop their regular inside vintage collection. I got my birthday dress there last year. I paid 18 dollars for it.

Hey. Anyone want this book?

First person to leave a comment (saying you want it) and to e-mail me a mailing address gets it. US shipping is included. See, I told you there'd be more freebies around here. Take that, Jet Rag.