putting this blog to bed.

my posting here has slowed way, way down on this ol' craft blog. i will always be making things--mostly now it's hoops. And much of what i do--writing, hooping and pole--is my craft that i don't feel compelled to blog at all.

and to be perfectly honest, i don't follow many blogs anymore. to be super duper honest, i get annoyed when i see the posses of bloggers and twitter-ers (one and the same) that seem to think exactly alike. if i've read one, i've read a thousand. i can't pick out their unique voices, because there doesn't seem to BE a unique voice.

i'm not interested in sponsorships, giveaways, book deals, getting listed on babble (not sure what that is) or getting paid to review products.

i don't want to blog daily. i don't want to tweet multiple times daily. so much of it feels all the same to me.

i want to go deeper. as much as i love the 'net (too much really), the time that i invest here takes time away from the things i really want to do. i don't want to feel that guilt. when i first started blogging my goal was to learn to knit. i tried really hard, and i gave up on it. it's not my thing.

i realize that when i started this i was trying to emulate an ideal. some of it's authentically me, some of it was not.

much of what i discovered is authentically me doesn't fit into the narrow description of 'craft blog' that i labelled this.

i have many opportunities converging on me at this very moment. letting this go opens me up even more, to so much!

i love my life. here's to creativity in ALL its incarnations, and to lives authentically lived.

the end.

From lips to landfill 364 days a year. One day isn't enough, Starbucks

(so I got fired up this morning. this will be a column.)

            The night before Earth Day I learned that Starbucks has a yearly campaign to give a free fill-up of coffee or tea to anyone who brings in their own reusable mug on Earth Day.

            In the words of Shania Twain: that don’t impress me much.

            It sounds good, at first.  But a closer look and some critical thinking makes it obvious that Bucks isn’t as green as they claim, and in fact this is a great example of greenwashing, when a company tries to appear more eco-friendly than they really are.

            Let’s start with the paper cups, which are bleached.  Not good.  Why doesn’t Bucks use unbleached cups?  And if you think the paper cup is recyclable?  Think again.  Well, technically it is, since everything is recyclable, but right now?  Nope.  

            The cup goes from your lips to the landfill.  It’s got a plastic coating, making the recycling process much harder (and nixes its compostability.)  Supply creates demand though, and if Starbucks collected the cups—numbering around three billion a YEAR—recycling centers would respond. 

            And?  There are compostable paper cups in green coffee shops RIGHT NOW…but not in Starbucks.

            Coffee shops truly trying to be green will—first and foremost—promote reusable mugs and cups.  Do Starbucks employees ever ask ‘for here or to go?’ and serve ‘for here’ customers drinks in ceramic mugs?

            I’ve never seen that happen.  

            Bucks also touts on their website that they give 10 cents off customers drinks when they bring their own mug.  Even though ten cents is lame, how many people know about the ten cents off?  If Bucks really wants to make an environmental change, where are the signs reminding customers to bring their reusable mug or to get their drink in a ‘for here’ mug?         

            Admittedly, I rarely step inside a Starbucks, but I’ve never seen such a sign.

            Clearly, paper throwaway cups are the standard, which is totally backwards.  And if you do bring your own mug, baristas often forget that you did and put your drink in a paper cup anyway.  Or, they measure your Cinnamon Dolce in a paper cup before pouring into your reusable cup.  Both defeat the purpose. Palm to forehead.

            Back to Earth Day and the Starbucks free drink promo.  Seems like a way to get all warm and fuzzy, like you’re actually helping the Earth by driving to Bucks for a free cup of Joe.  It’s a good gimmick, but little more than that.  

earth day giveaway: bling, string and spring

I love this divine twine!  For an Earth day giveaway that includes these ten colors, a necklace, and a cute reusable bag, The Green Bag Lady is giving away ten of these sets.  Check it out here.

my new 'office'

Last week, in a week of heavy writing deadlines and other such things, i got this wild and crazy idea that i needed an office.  right now.  let me back up--we've never had the space to dedicate to an offic or anything, so a desk has always been in our bedroom (didn't like) or in our dining room (didn't like that, either).

i decided that i would move the desk into what was Lily's room, and then Calvin's room (though it was still pink and purple) and that Calvin would be happy sleeping upstairs 'with the big kids.'  then we'd all be happy, right?  oh, i tried it almost a year ago! Fail!

i bought the paint the next day--picking colors that surprised me even (hello--brown??), and started painting.

in the midst of this i'm still working like crazy on writing deadlines and did i mention, we're switching from a pc to a mac?  i guess i know that i work better under pressure, so i was on fire.

today i got the finishing touch, a rug, so it's pretty much done aside from some finishing quarter round that may or may not get done this year.  here we go....

Before:

one end of the room

the other end.  what a mess!

getting prepped to paint

computer desk in the dining room

After:

the 'office' side

the playroom side

my music and files and some books, etc.

one of my favorite quotes, "here's to the crazy ones"

Yay, I feel like a pro now!

my seaglass ring

Custom made by Buffalo Lucy from this beautiful piece of sea glass I found on the Maine seacoast once upon a time.  I've wanted a seaglass ring for years and I am so thrilled!

I open the box and my immediate thought is: "I hope this bubblewrap has been recycled."

...then I see this note and it makes me smile.  Let's hear it for the eco-freaks!

cute box!

and there it is, isn't it lovely?

See more pics from Buffalo Lucy here, you can also see the lettering on the glass in one of the photos.

cachet makes a hoop

I have made probably close to a hundred hoops now, i figured it was time to document it...

First, I picked up a lovely, compact coil of 100' 160 psi 3/4" irrigation pipe (in aisle 12 of my) Lowe's, along with a pack of 3/4" connectors.

You cut the tape and all hell breaks loose--it springs in all directions.

The custom hoop request is for a 40" hoop, so tape measure is handy.

I locate one end of the pipe and feel my way around to the spot I need to cut (which ends up being somewhere in the middle of the coil--there's no rhyme or reason).  I measure what I think (hope) is a 40" circle.

This tool is awesome--ratcheting cutters.  Cut through the pipe.

Oh, and i've boiled water and poured into the sink, because now I need to soften the ends to put it together.

This hooper wants a half of a cup of water in her hoop, so I pour that in...

Put the connector in

And push it together. Voila!  As it cools, it tightens up and won't come apart or leak.

I measure--whew--40"

Tape the connected seam for extra security.

And the fun part--picking colors.  I'll use a sparkly tape, electrical tape, and gaffer's tape (for stick).

This will be awesome I think.

I forgot to take a picture of this part--argh--but I put the sparkle tape on first, angling it just right so that I can then lay down the electrical and last, the gaffe tape.  It's a little tricky, this part, to get it smooth and even and pretty.

And here she is--pretty!

I hooped a bit with it, the water makes for an interesting hoop.  You can feel it swishing and shifting and it definitely adds a bit of weight.  I hope this hooper loves it!

refashioning a dress into a tunic

                                               These aren't great pics, but you do what you can!

2 things inspired this sewing project--one--I've been wanting a tunic top to wear with my skinny jeans, and two--I kind of went on a new clothes shopping spree lately and so I didn't want to purchase anything else 'new'--I wanted to either find one used or make one out of something I already had.  I found a black jersey knit dress in my closet that I've had for 2.5 years and worn maybe once.  Why did I buy it?  I have no idea, I don't wear dresses.

After I started cutting into it, I thought I should have taken a 'before' pic.  Oh well.

Basically I cut the bodice off, recontructed parts of the dress into a kind of flowy top, and used an old black sweater belt I found in my closet to cinch it up at the waist.  I sewed panels in the sides of the previously fitted bodice top, sewed rectangles (cut out of the skirt) at the bottom of the bodice part front and back as sort of 'panels', and cut off the three quarters sleeves and made a little cut in the tops of them.

I think it turned out pretty cute.

crosspost from my other blog--heirloom garden seeds

I posted this Current column last March, and since it's already time again to plan gardens, now's the time to revisit the seed issue.  Heirloom seeds are important to me, as is supporting local businesses, so I plan to buy my Botanical Interest seeds again from Allisonville Nursery.  Almost time to rig up the grow-light in the basement again and coax the seeds into seedlings!

reusable bag WINNERS!

We drew names and here are the two winners!

Alright-we have two winners! Congrats, Eva (black cotton bag) and ecclaire (lemongrass bamboo bag)! Eva, I don't have your email address, please get in touch with me in the next few days.

I'm sure you all were waiting with bated breath--hee!--but I got sucked in to the Grammy's last night, for about 45 minutes tops, before I fell asleep.  Interesting, is all I have to say. 

I will mail these out this week!

new haircut & facebook hoop silliness installment 1

I've always had what I guess I'd describe as 'problem' hair.  Too much of it, too curly in an unruly sort of way to look good without straightening, too hard to deal with.  I never went to the same stylist twice, always hoping for a miracle when I went in and walking out disappointed.  As it turns out, I needed to find both a cut and a stylist that worked for me.  I've been getting some variation of this haircut for a few years now (and going to the same stylist) and am pretty happy with it.  I'd been waffling on trying to grow my hair out but, as evidenced above decided to go with the short stacked layers in the back again.  I just love how it looks, and I love keeping some longer layers around my face.

I've been having some hilarious facebook convos with my friends--specifically with Ernie.  Let's start at the beginning, because, make no mistake, I definitely saved these convos as blog fodder.  They are too good to be forgotten!  I'll be posting them in installments.

Early January:
Status: ohhh yeah! what we've been waiting for! hoopers (any level)--check it out--classes in the 'ville with the fabulous Lynn! Starting tues. 1/11--4 week sessions.
Ernie: oh sure it's just a fun little hoop craze. people gather in masses to hoop with each other. until one day they've got grape kool-aid for everyone to drink. i'm not buying it :)

Krista: Ernie, we were thinking cherry koolaid, but grape will work! ha!

Audrey: Since I have never hooped, I'm a little with Ernie on this one! Ha!

Krista: C'mon Audrey-ya don't know what you're missing :) oh, there will be a party sat. night, anyone 'on the fence' can come see and try if they want.

Krista: er..i'm getting events mixed up...the party is sat. 1/22

Ernie: Y'all are falling for it. Charles manson's a hooper I hear.

Ernie: Classic pied piper move. Stay strong audrey

Krista : ernie-shh! hoopers are gonna rule the world. hell yeah. hoopin revolution!

Heather: All I needed to hear was Kool-Aid....... I might be in!

Ernie:  they start talking about a fund raiser to Guyana and that's your cue to bail. that or they bring in a golden hoop and ask for donations. ask questions and stay thirsty my friend,

Krista: omg Ernie--you're cracking me up! golden hoop....! LOLOL


A few days later--

Status: Just burned the hell out of the grilled cheese. Why can't I get this timing thing down?!

Katie: Damn woman, where did u learn to cook? ;-)

Krista:  Katie--I'm sure my sister Katie could chime in here on my cooking disasters! I don't remember if you were privy to any of them.

Stacy: some of us just aren't cut out to be gourmet chefs.

Katie:  No sorry sweety, the only thing you made for me was a bag of doritos and our morning cereal! Lol best doggone cereal I ever ate!

Ernie: maybe you should try hooping while grilling.

Krista: Katie--omg, i really fixed you cereal? the doritos...yeah, i remember those. good lord, we ate so many of those! xoxo

Krista: Ernie--that's a good one. yes, i should try it! how will i get close enough to the stove though?

Ernie: I don't know. But if you do that...hoop and grill...have rob shoot a video. It'll go viral on youtube

Krista: Next thing ya know, I'll be on Ellen!

Ernie: You make the video and let the hoopn FB friends do the rest. Who here wants to see the queen of hooping on ellen? Bet we get u in L.A. by end of next week.

Krista: Lol! I want to go to LA! grilled cheese and hoopn will take me there! Can any radio dj's promote?!? :)

Ernie:  U don't need any jackass dj to help. All you need is the video on youtube and your Fb friends. You need me to shoot the video? My research team will get with u and rob tomorrow

Krista: Geez-I'm laughing so hard. Yeah - have your people get with mine, k?

So, I don't know if this translates well, or if only we think it's funny...but anyway, I love it.  There is more to come, fo' sho.  :)

reusable bag GIVEAWAY!

This week I read an article on this IN House Bill that would charge 10 cents per plastic bag.  I'm thinking 10 cents isn't enough but it's way better than FREE and UNLIMITED and WASTEFUL bag usage, and it's about time to start charging, or better yet, ban them all together like SF has done.  To the outcries of 'how will I carry my STUFF?' (probably not from readers of this blog, but I know we all know people who would say that), you do what people did before plastic bags--bring your own.  Hello.  Our local library stopped offering plastic bags over a year ago, people seem to have adapted.  You go into Aldi's, you pay for your bags or bring your own.  You go into Costco?  No free bags there, either.

I just ordered some awesome bags from reuseit, a great online store for all things reusable.   I'm giving away two bags--
                                   This recycled cotton bag that's AWESOME for groceries,

and this bamboo tote bag--great for the library!

If you want a chance to win one of these bags, just enter in the comments section.  I'll close the comments and pick a winner (edit--TWO winners!) next Sunday 2/13 at 7pm.  Good Luck!

ps--be sure y'all give me your emails when you comment (or check back) so that i can get in touch w/ you if you win!

okay, okay....comin' back around

Hello, February!  Hello, neglected blog!  Hello, a few minutes of peace and quiet, because we're digging out of 'icepocalypse' or whatever and have been stuck at home for nearly 2 days.  But the roads are pretty decent now, so I took the kids over to my friends for a few hours so I can start to catch up on some writing deadlines (gosh, I don't know, writing just does NOT happen well here with kids around...). 

So, I'm taking just a few minutes to center and then will dig in to writing, but I wanted to post my friend Mindi's blog, because she's one helluva crafter and a cool hippie chick (btw Mindi, I made my last batch of deodorant and put it in an old Tom's of Maine stick and loooove it).  Mindi and I met via the Current, and so did most of the 'wolves' (our Women Who Run With the Wolves bookclub) which is all sorts of awesome. 

So, I'm gonna be planning this year's (I'm not a) dirty hippie parties this weekend, please comment with any sort of body care/home care item you'd like to make, even if you're not local! 

I'll be posting some hooping pics here soon, too, because I just attended an awesome HoopPath workshop and friends Ernie and Aaron were there and took some photos at the party.  (LED hoops are mesmerizing, btw, I want one!)

Spring is around the corner, too, I love February.  Almost time for sowing seeds inside!

the realm of skinny jeans, and the boot saga ends...for now

last night i did it.  i bought some skinny jeans (my teenage daughter rolls her eyes a little, i think.  it's HER territory after all!).  wow, how did i go so long without them?  they're so comfortable and look so good with my new black boots.  the boot saga is over.  but i'll back up--a bunch of years ago (7 I think) i picked up an awesome pair of (vinyl) black heeled boots, i don't even remember where, for probably around $30.  i loved them.  they fit like a dream, looked awesome, had a square toe and chunky heel, and were 'clicky' when i walked.  i love clicky's.

then this year the vinyl started splitting and peelin around the zipper.  i've still worn them, it's pretty hidden under my regular boot cut jeans, but i started looking for replacement boots.

i was in for a long haul.  i couldn't find any like THAT.  i wanted leather, but would be ok with vinyl, i just wanted something like those.  i searched stores.  i searched online.  i searched ebay.  i ended up buying THREE pairs of boots on ebay that i thought would work.  none did (and now i have three pairs to re-sell).  i bought a pair of as-close-as-i-can-come-to-what-i-want boots at DSW....BUT no clicky heels.  that bugged me.

then i searched zappos again and found these.  I got them yesterday and pretty much love them.  they're as close as i'm gonna get to my old boots.  if the heel was a little chunkier and they had zippers (i didn't realize they were stretch pull-ons) i'd be ecstatic.  but i'm at least very, very happy!  so then i was thinking--skinny jeans!  why have i never?  took the daughter to old navy and found some clearanced for 8.99 each.  we each got 2 pairs.  sweet!

writing

Although not in the January print issue, the Parenting 101 features I wrote for Indy's Child and Cincinnati Parent are online (same article, but different quotes for each market). This is my official debut for another writing venue and I look forward to other writing opportunities for 2011.

I have a couple of blog posts from december to blog about, coming soon.  I have some writing deadlines that I should do first!