so fun to say

Shuttlecock.
Shuttlecock.
Say it out loud people, shuttlecock.
That is a super fun word to say.
Shuttlecock.
Shuttlecock.

And why do i have badminton on the brain?

And not just any badminton birdie, my friends.
This beauty at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MI is 18 ft tall and FANTASTIC.







Installed in the mid-90's by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, it is one of three shuttlecocks strewn about the grounds making it look like giants were playing a game of badminton with the museum as the net.

BF Suzanne and I visited KC last November and this was the Number One thing on my to-do list.

It did not disappoint. 

You can totally go stand inside of it for pictures.

Totally.

though you might not want to put your foot up on the priceless art, as a nice security guard reminded me 

Giant shuttlecock.

Like a set piece from my dreams.

Thanks, Kansas City!

driving into the past

We can all agree, i would think, that falling gas prices bring smiles to our collective faces.
Before leaving for Ohio on Christmas Eve i filled up at my local station and was pleased as punch to pay $2.64; i mean, it is not only below $3, but almost half-way to $2.
Prices were consistent through Maryland and West Virginia with a small increase (5-10 cents) in Pennsylvania, which is normal.
Then i crossed the Ohio River and gas was suddenly $2.09.

$2.09?!?!?!

When was the last time that was the price of gas - 2002?
How in the world did the price drop 60 cents in 60 miles?
Then i got into central Ohio and my mom's local station was $1.98.
What...? How...? Where...?
Isn't that what i paid in the early 90's?
The gas prices between home and mom's are normally within 20 cents of each other.
Is there some sort of time vortex in Ohio?
So all week i tried to drive  down my tank as low as possible to fill up the maximum amount at this below $2 price.
My sister Kris and I were out shopping and she told me that the lowest price was on Rt 13 in Utica, which conveniently enough i pass on the way to the highway.
Which is how in the first week of January 2015 i paid the same amount for gas as i did in 1995.

.

i found it!

My missing pink camera card reader has been located.
The culprit was not evil gnomes as suspected or even the increasingly bold mouse that tap dances in my kitchen nightly.
No, indeed.
It was a beloved companion whom i never even suspected: Squeaky Monkey.
I don't know why it was hidden, tucked away at the back of the passenger seat of my car under Squeaky Monkey's feet and he was mum on the subject.
Let's do a quick run down of last month now that we have photos, shall we?

Erin and I (along with baby Caleb) attended the Festival of the Wreaths at the Carroll County Arts Council, which is in a cool converted Art Deco theater. There were over 150 wreaths decorated in every style and theme. Erin had created a fun one out of craft supplies with her friend Amy of One Artsy Mama dot com. In fact, Erin is now working with Amy on the blog.

  Go visit them

.

And now a gratuitous adorable baby shot.

I like to really get utility from things.
It is important to me to not be wasteful.

But mayhaps it is time to get a new laundry basket.








There was one of those you-can-steal-a-present gift exchanges at a Christmas party that i  attended and a designed a ReWearables necklace as my offering. Good news: it turned out well and several people liked it. Bad news: there was almost a fist fight when one woman took it away from another. I was rather conflicted: great for my ego, bad for the Christmas Spirit.
At the same exchange i came away with a cement hedgehog.

The drive to Ohio on Christmas Eve was again fraught with questionable weather. Why can't it ever just be cold, but sunny?
The fog in the mountains was awesome and i mean it in the definition of inspiring an overwhelming feeling of fear.
Here is the visibility in the valleys, on the ascents/descents and on the mountain tops.

I got the best ho socks ever for Christmas,

and an Elf on the Shelf.

But not some ordinary Elf on the Shelf.

Oh, no.

Mine is full of candy, has a fan and LIGHTS UP.

I also have an interesting story about driving back in time, but that will have to wait because i need to go pick up the shawarma.

Pearl Harbor

73 years ago the Japanese Imperial Navy launched an attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu.
Battleships, cruisers, destroyers and aircrafts were beached, destroyed or sunk.
Over 2,400 died with more than 1,000 of the bodies lost to a watery grave.
The next day, the US declared war on Japan and vice versa.
Three days later Germany and Italy declared war on America.
Less then 150 hours after the attack, the US was fully engaged in the Second World War after spending years trying to avoid it.

Those dry facts can be found in any history book or on any WWII website, but they mean little to modern generations for whom that war might as well have been as long ago as the Civil War.

I think that is why Pearl Harbor is one of the most visited sites in Hawaii. We all know in the back of our collective consciousness that we should remember it, but it is tucked so far back that it is not until we stand in the actual location that we are moved to care.

Driving west from Honolulu, I knew i had to be getting close when missiles starting peeking over the fence.

I was shocked to see that the Pacific Command is still housed here.
Logically it isn't surprising, but somehow i'd always assumed that it was moved after being all bombed to heck.
Guess not.

The Pearl Harbor location is home not only to the Arizona, but also the USS Missouri, where the Japanese formally surrendered, the USS Bowfin submarine, and the Pacific Aviation Museum.

The USS Arizona Memorial can only be reached by boat shuttle as it straddles the remaining wreckage of the battleship right where she sank. 

2,000 free tickets are given out each day to visitors; with the visitor center opening at 7am, the tix are often gone by mid-morning.

Come early!

NOTE: pictures are from October 2010

The short boat ride gives you time to appreciate the stark beauty of the white bridge, bowed in the middle to represent the depression in the spirit of America after the attack and its resilience to rise again as you approach from the left, getting closer and closer.

Here are some pictures to illustrate locations for you:

For me it was one thing to know that the monument was over a sunken ship, but a very different experience to stand looking at rusting pieces jutting out of the water, sea life claiming the underwater metal as its own and oil slicks continuous on the water.

 

To lend perspective to the size of the ships attacked and the enormity of sinking or beaching eight of them, you walk by one of the Arizona's three anchors next to the launch pier.

Today i pause to remember and acknowledge your sacrifice

It was one of the most beautiful and affecting places i have ever visited.

a Niki's-eye view

Sometimes we miss the most obvious things.
Often, when i upload pictures from my camera, it seems like the images don't look like my memories, especially the ones taken outside.
Well duh, Niki; you were wearing sunglasses when you took the pictures.
I realized that last week and decided to take a few shots though my lenses to capture what i was actually seeing.

goodbye sunshine

sitting in the Indianapolis airport

To fly from Baltimore, MD to Ft Myers, FL it makes plenty of sense to change planes in Indiana, right?
In the long run it probably is better because now i am not flying down the coast into the ice storm.
My flight was overbooked, so i volunteered to give up my seat in exchange for a flight voucher.
There is free wi-fi so i am IM-ing with Rea, writing this post and playing Candy Crush.
It's all good, baby!
Except for one tiny, little thing: the only open table was in the middle of the concourse next to the people movers and there is an automatic warning that plays every FOUR SECONDS (yes, i counted).
I can mostly block it out, but it is definitely right there under all the rest of my thoughts.

The moving walkway

is coming to an end. {STOP}

Please watch your step. {aaaaaauuugggggghhhhhhh}

i like traveling by rail

Planes may be faster,

but trains have comfort covered.

Hello Scooby-Doo.

huge personal space, wi-fi and electrical outlets at every seat
especially nice for an 8 hour trip to Boston

i wonder...

Driving on the Mass Pike i was amused by their sign.

It makes me happy when states do something interesting instead of just going with a boring white rectangle; every place is a good place for some creativity (except doing your taxes...).







Then it occurred to me, Do you think the Puritans would approve of six lanes of asphalt cutting through the forests and metal boxes on wheels whizzing along at 70 mph? 

sometimes you just have to

Earlier in the week I had my day planned:
LabCorp for quarterly bloodwork,
bank,
gas,
library,
blog post,
finish earrings that are designed and wired,
draw blueprints for new display,
Lowe's, and
build displays.

I finished and marked off the first two just fine and was putting gas in the car when I heard it.
A tiny voice.
A beautiful voice as familiar to me as my own.
A voice that has been silent for far too long.

It was the road.
Blue sky, bright sunlight, crisp autumn air and the road calling to me:
What's a girl to do?



I ran home long enough to grab my GO bag and camera batteries.
[What do you mean, What is a GO bag?
I always have a little backpack packed with sunscreen, bug spray, almonds, dried fruit, bottle of water, clean socks/undies, deodorant and toothpaste because you never know when you might have the opportunity to GO]

My favorite regional park -Black Hill, near Clarksburg- is a little over 40 miles away, through some beautiful countryside. Windows down, radio up and cruise control set to a reasonable speed instead of how fast I want to drive, it was a lovely drive.

I spent the afternoon writing in the sunshine
and taking pictures of sugar maples.


And those displays?
They'll get built soon enough.

a dozen random queries

WHY WAS THAT CABINET EVEN OPEN?
I have a pretty specific morning routine on non- studio days.
It is the same day after day because it is both efficient and easy to do half asleep.
Which is why I do not understand how I managed to smash my face into the medicine chest mirror this morning.
I hadn't used anything in there yet.
I'm sure it was closed when I got into the shower because otherwise I would have hit it going into the shower. But when I was drying off and stepped out of the shower gabang chin meet pointy edge of door. Then the phone rang and Rea was greeted with, Stand by; i'm wet and bleeding.
Good start to the day: GO Team Us!

DID THE DESIGNER OF THIS COOKIE JAR GET FIRED?

This little doggy is so cute with his play-with-me posture, waggley tongue and big eyes.
But who thought it was a good idea to have to fetch your Oreos from under the dog's tail?

WAS THE DENVER AIRPORT DESIGNED BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL?

I mean, honestly people.

Was the circus in town during the designers' meeting for this building?

HOW AWESOME IS THIS ENSEMBLE?

Cute summery sheath dress in a sweet bamboo print that has not only a matching purse, but matching shoes?
I love matching!
Now if only I liked sheath dresses.
And wore green.
And was a size 6.
A size 6 Tall.




AT WHAT HEIGHT DOES A PILE BECOME AN AVALANCHE HAZARD?

This is an unused shower with which I am acquainted.

 (no, it isn't mine; we already established that I was in my shower this morning)

Every time I use the facilities in this bathroom I am kinda afraid for my life.

WHY MUST PRETTY PRETTIES BE SO EXPENSIVE?

...sigh
Spent a while cleaning and displaying Waterford crystal at the Flea this week.
This is a medium bowl in the Lismore pattern.
You can see the spots of light that it throws onto the wall, but the picture didn't capture that all of the cut lines gleam with rainbows.
I could sit and stare at it for hours (but Andrew would frown on that).

ARE YOU SURE THAT IS EDIBLE?
What is going on here?
Jar, water, yellow globs...
That, my friends, is some of the homemade butter I made from the cow I milked.
This pic is from an intermediary step; I promise it comes out better in the end.
Look for the complete post next Thursday or Friday.




WHY DO FAKE ANTLER CANDLESTICKS EXIST?

We are not even gonna discuss the idea of decorating in dead animals.

Or the fact that this particular candlestick is hideous.

If you are opposed to using real antlers, why would you be okay decorating with resin ones?

Normally people that don't want real antlers wouldn't like any depiction of dismembered animal parts.

If you are going to go with a rustic/hunter/carnivore motif you should at least have the good grace to use real antlers, people.

WHY IS LYDIA STANDING IN AN ABANDONED GAS STATION WEARING 3-D GLASSES?

I gave another teaser about this Friday Adventure months ago and then there was the picture kerfluffle.
Well, I am really going to reveal the coolness behind this picture in a post on Monday or Tuesday.

IF GIANT BEAVERS RULED THE EARTH WOULD THEY KEEP US AS PETS?

Yes.
Yes, they would.
At least, they'd keep the sparkly humans as pets.

The rest?
Great Dam builder slaves.















WHAT HOBBY WOULD YOU START IF YOU HAD UNLIMITED TIME AND MONEY?

For me?

Juggling fire.

'nuff said.

WHAT IS MY NAME?

The contest to name this adorable little guy ends on Tuesday.
I have a clear favorite so far from the suggestions.
Leave your last minute ideas here or on the original post.
Wednesday his/her name will be announced and the winner gets either a $15 NikCo gift certificate or a 4 pack of greeting cards custom made for them.

pick a pearl

note: pictures from October 2010

 

About 10 years ago I decided that I wanted to buy jewelry as my souvenir on trips.

I usually get an inexpensive fridge magnet to have something touristy with the name of the place, but then save up my spending money to get a nicer piece of jewelry than I would normally allow myself to buy: a watch in Durham, sterling earrings in New Orleans and so on.

On my way back to the hotel after outrigger canoe surfing at Waikiki I walked through the huge street marketplace and was accosted (in the friendliest way possible) by a sweet girl hawking coupons to the Pearl in Oyster kiosk.

I was tired from rowing and punch drunk on sunshine and the ocean so I thought what the hey? After all, one of my favorite charms is the pearl I got from the Japanese diving pond at Sea World Ohio with my grandparents Craig back in 1908 (okay, maybe it was 1982, but it sure feels like 100 years ago).

With my purple 40% off coupon in hand, I carefully poked through the oyster bowl until I found the one I wanted.

I took the tapping very seriously

I've heard that other pick-a-pearl places you have to shout out some crazy phrases, but she just had me do the traditional three taps on my oyster before shucking that bad boy to reveal my lovely black pearl.

 

Even knowing that it is cultured (perfect natural pearls are even rarer than you think) in no way detracts from how beautiful it was after she cleaned and polished it with salt.

 

Now for the expensive part: finding a setting.

You don't have to buy a setting, but after seeing how gorgeous the pearl was, I knew that it had to be my Hawaii souvenir. There were some sterling cages for charm bracelets, but I just wasn't feeling them. My other pearl charm is actually on a necklace bail so I asked to look at necklace settings. There was a simple silver curve that reminded me of a wave which seemed fitting since i'd just come from the beach; it was perfect.

Next comes drilling (glad that isn't my job), gluing and setting. 

 

While my pearl was becoming a pendant, I got to pick another oyster and found double pinks. They however came home in a little bag as my pendant turned out to be a bit more expensive than I anticipated (about 3 times as much) because we looked at so many settings that I ended picking a white gold one which I thought was sterling. It was still within vacation souvenir parameters, but there was nothing left in the fund to make pink pearl earrings.

 

Flash forward more than 2 years and my beautiful, expensive pearl pendant (which an appraiser told me has a little diamond chip at the end of the wave that I never noticed) still had not been worn because I didn't have the correct chain for it. I knew that I wanted something kinda long - between 24 and 36 inches- and would prefer a snake or box chain.

While doing NikCo supply shopping on EBay I found the perfect chain for $1.99!

[to my amazement and disappointment it turned out to be sterling silver when it arrived; I know that should make me even happier about the deal, but it means I have to polish it...yech]

I wore my Hawaiian black pearl for the first times just a few weeks ago.

 

It makes me really happy.

 

Mental Morsel - the oysters people eat are not pearl oysters; in fact they aren't closely related at all

 

ps-hey Rea, look: it's a Hawaii post!