Saturday, November 29, 2008

is it a problem of chemicals or perspective?

I know the holidays are disruptive and everything will be better when I get back into my beloved routine-- when I get the intruders out of my space.

I'm having a bit of a pity party, though, trying to figure out why I just can't be okay.

yes, there is stress in my life, but stress happens. it is a part of life. I need to be able to handle it.

(deep breath)

the beardcore hat is busy being awesome. I'm not sure if it's too big or if it's just bigger than my head. I measured-- I have measured again-- and that all seems to be right. for a while I was thinking I should tear it all out and start again, but I have since decided that it might be a lot cooler felted. I'll keep working on it, because I don't have to decide now. until I actually do felt it, I can always take it out.

you should look at my pictures, too. I spent pretty much all day yesterday in my studio.

it was great.

Friday, November 28, 2008

bad at titles


, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

the case holding time line on the studio wall counts as studying, right?

reasons my family is awesome:
darth vader
pool patrol
brian sturgis
all star team
is anyone going to explain the rules to this game?

Thursday, November 27, 2008

happy thanksgiving

the government gave us a day off to sit around and think about how great our lives are.


unless we work in retail or service (or the military), because apparently the government seeks to further the chasm between blue collar and silk stocking. hmmmmmm........

if you think of anything bad, like family gossip or having to work or the grey hairs taking over your scalp, let it go. when the thoughts enter your head, drop them. take a deep breath and think about your cozy socks, the warm shower that's a little longer than environmentally friendly, and the fact that you are not on fire.

unless you are on fire. if that is the case, STOP PLAYING ON THE INTERNET. then drop and roll. do not run, scream, and burn. then, when the fire is out, be grateful that you are no longer on fire.

if you work in retail or service, take solace that people you encounter are glad you are there for them. they may be cranky, but they are probably just mad at themselves for running out of gas or hemorrhoid creme and do not have the cognizance or self-control to not take it out on you.

don't be the cranky person, either. that's not cool.

to my classmates who are finishing their memo, be impressed with yourself for coming this far and grateful that the library is open until midnight.

(I think.)

anyway. don't be too cool to say, "happy thanksgiving." we try to be all poetic about what that really means, but there is no reason to try so hard. the gratefulness is there. entertain it.

post script: I subscribed some people to receive blog updates via email. we all know that I am a show off, so let's not pretend to be surprised. if you would like to not be subscribed, just say, "hey, shine, not so cool."

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

the awesomeness continues


, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

everyone wants to be a part of the party of chickens!

I get spoiled. my friends are such amazing people that I am surprised when other people are not so amazing. douchebaggery should not be so common.

on the one hand, this feels like a callous decent into being jaded. on the other, I feel extreme gratitude that people in my life are so exceptional.

Monday, November 24, 2008

a few things:

1. I put stuff up in my etsy shop again.
2 you will also notice my "mini etsy" on the right.
3. this blog is imported to my sg blog. the html doesn't convert, and if I care enough at the time, I will fix that.
4. exams are in two weeks.
5. we have gorgeous big fluffy snowflakes making people crash their cars.

love!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

strained video game analogy deleted


how are you doing today?, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

I glazed this piece yesterday. I spent hours on it. I spent hours putting a timeline of caselaw on my studio wall. I made pancakes, and it took hours to eat them.

I finished my first year of law school last time, but I'm not entirely sure how. I knew before I took exams that I would have heart surgery within a matter of weeks.

cooley's michaelmas term's exams are in two weeks. I have no health excuse to hide behind this time.

my tremor is so obvious....

Thursday, November 20, 2008

want some?

all I care about is making them. they don't need to sit around my house and get dusty, or get knocked over and break.

I would like to be able to continue my artistic endeavors, so, you know, make me an offer or something.

seeking a good home:
big sky can't live without addiction tree of life
some of these shots are more documentary than others useless

the last one is two pieces.

click on any of the thumbnails to go to the big picture, and from there you can get more information and more pictures.

I'm tired.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

couldn't wait


, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

seriously. I have no impulse control.

I took a lot of pictures. to see my ceramics photo collection, click = .

gleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

ftw!


, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

compositionally speaking, this is not a great photo. BUT! BUT! look at how it is actually working! the text is right ways on both sides, too. I can't even begin to tell you how exciting this is for me.

click here for the color chart.

btb (which is 'by the by,' acronymatically) I am beyond eager to open my kiln.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

it's snowing


, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

I love snow.

my kiln has been heating up for the past four hours. we'll be firing to cone six today!

firing is one of my favorite things ever in the whole universe. when I open the kiln (wednesday), I get to see functional and aesthetically pleasing pieces that came from mud and glass. it's magical.

Friday, November 14, 2008

why I spend my friday nights at home

the bars don't begin to compare:


of course, I'm always thrilled about the chickens.


the obama bowl will not be ready for the firing. I'm eager to see how it will come out, but it's not worth rushing it.


the fiddle bowl. all hail. I actually have people giving me a hard time about not giving it to them. I tend to think people take my stuff just to humor me, and so it makes me giddy when people actually like them. I spent an hour or so (um. under the influence) telling John how huge a compliment it is that he wears the socks I made him.

I appreciate that I am bragging, but really it means a lot to me that people actually like my stuff.

knitting!


this is what I do while I'm at work. that's right: it's a double knit chart for text that will be right way on both sides.


I'm thrilled to watch it come into being.

I am the world's biggest nerd and you wouldn't have me any other way.

and of course:

the sock yarn blanket.

as always, pictures are links to the photos within my flickr photostream.

a few things

1. the hat is freaking awesome. the zealous ambition, hopefully, will lead to a finished product I can be proud of.
2. I'm doing a glaze firing on sunday. I am also giddy about this.
3. the obama bowl will not be ready, but I will be firing again before giftmas. I'm eager to see how it turns out, but I can't rush it.
4. I was going to take pictures today. really, I was. it comes down to priorities, and I guess pictures fall pretty low on the list.
5. I don't know where the past 11 weeks went. I can't believe I'm almost done with my second term.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

deep breath

I'm starting the beardcore hat for my tattoo artist.

that's right:
a double knit free hand hat with text that will be right side on either side.

I am insane.

oh! oh! plus!

I'm doing a provisional cast on so I can do an i-cord border.

yep.

if you want to do math that will make you feel very stupid, try double knit decreases in the round. should be AWESOME.

Friday, November 7, 2008

dredging up the old photos


red hat, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

I made this hat for my mom's 50th birthday. I wanted to do a big hat with a wide brim, but I had no idea how. up until that point, I had really only used free patterns because I knew I needed to read stuff first to decide if I wanted to do it.

after some research, I fell in love with Annie Modesitt. I had never done millinery before-- really never even lace-- but I loved the spectator grand so much I bought two more patterns and made them, too.

I had a really good time making the hats. I should do it again.

as for the photo---
back in the dark ages *cough*2004*cough,* a 3.2 megapixel was the best an amateur could afford. yep. it's hard to believe I ever thought that looked good.


in other news!
I have two designs for my bowls that I'm working on. both are pretty complex, but I'm just about giddy watching them turn out. one is a secret for my family, and the other is going to be a "faux screenprint" Obama bowl. yes, I am that big of a nerd.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

the day after

citizens of the united states most certainly are proud of the dignified resolution of this 2008 presidential electoral race.

the past two elections felt very much like battle of egos, a 'gimme!' and 'mine!' arguement-- spoiled brats pulling apart a treasured teddy bear and tearing it, spilling its fragile fluffy guts.

either McCain or Obama would have served the nation to the best of his abilities-- and really served. both candidates truly seemed most interested in what is best for the country. the negative campaigning was intense, but, as country that so firmly embraces free speech, the debate speaks to the willingness and desire to learn and express as much as possible about our candidates.

the united states of america has "a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials." New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 84 S.Ct. 710.

McCain's concession speech was gracious and grateful. Obama reminded me of Kennedy.

hopefully the similarities don't run much further than the statesmanship.



I can't quite study enough right now. (no-- I did not study while watching election coverage last night)

I was, however, able to unload my kiln yesterday. my pieces shrunk a lot more than I had expected-- or maybe it just seemed like it. the things we make always seem to get smaller with time, don't they? anyway, I haven't even looked in my studio since unloading. I'm looking forward to glazing.
congratulations, President-Elect Obama.

Monday, November 3, 2008

monday = post office day


, originally uploaded by nirbhao.

since I've been doing the yarn swaps, mondays mean all kinds of fun new yarn in my mailbox. it, of course, also means that I'm sending out a bunch of yarn. sometimes I think, "maybe I should just buy these yarns." today I paid about $20 in postage. in return, I got about $100 worth of yarn.

not that I didn't buy the yarn I'm sending out in the first place, but I am not using it. I'm not going to use it. I've also been exposed to yarns I would have never known about, much less sought out-- antique yarns, discontinued yarns, and homespun.

if you're on ravelry, go check out my stash.

everyone get pumped about voting tomorrow! w00t!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

yesterday's soup de jour

the bisque went well. it was shorter than I expected. I hope I did things right with the kiln sitter.

I got a new fire extinguisher. the clerk said, "hopefully you never have to use it!"

I can't decide if that was a really good joke or a really bad one.

now for the waiting....

everything is very good. there is a lot going on. it's been set into motion and now it happens on its own.