All Pictures
- Applejack Daisy Tumbler.
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8.18.2010
This is yet another early "tumbler", which I made during a class at Seattle Glassblowing Studio last November. It's a bit small (only 3 or 4 inches tall) and it's got quite a lot of tool marks. However, it's relatively straight, so I'm very proud of this early piece.
I occasionally insist that the husband perpare an Applejack Daisy for me in my very own glass.
- Glass Pumpkin 2009 #3.
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7.18.2010
This is another blown glass pumpkin from last fall. I made this at Art By Fire in Issaquah. Art By Fire does a clear stem rather than a colored stem, which is a bit of a shame since colored stems look so nice. They also use the mold with the wider ridges, which results a much more pumpkiny-shaped pumpkin.
The monthly Blow Your Own events were much more convenient when Art By Fire was in Ballard. We could take a leisurely walk down to the glass shop and then grab dinner at La Carta De Oxaca or La Isla. Now we've got to dash out of work, and slog through freeway and bridge traffic get to the Issaquah location. There is a bright side though - we can get dinner at the Issaquah Brewhouse. In fact, that's the husband's payoff for coming out to Issaquah with me - Rogue beer.
- The New EGM, and a Refund From MAXIM.
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7.4.2010
I am now the proud recipient of my very first new EGM, as well as a $3.33 refund for my old EGM subscription, which was replaced with MAXIM when they stopped publishing EGM. Yes, 3 dollars and 33 cents, and it was totally worth it. It's the principle of the thing.
- Glass Bud Vase.
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6.21.2010
This small vase is another piece from my Beginner's II class at Seattle Glassblowing Studio last November.
Six months after my first glassblowing class, I took a second one. This was the first piece I made in that class. It was supposed to be a simple straight cylinder, but I had quite a lot of trouble with it. I was imagining something much larger, and after spending a really long time on it, I just ended up with this little thing. I was disappointed at first, but now I can appreciate that this piece makes a cute little bud vase.
Thanks to the husband for the photography.
- Fluted Bowl with a Two Color Optic Twist.
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6.3.2010.2010
I made this a fluted bowl (with a two-color optic twist) in my Beginner's II class at Seattle Glassblowing Studio last November.
The optic twist technique is pretty interesting. I mixed the blue and yellow frit together and picked it up on a single gather without a starter bubble. (The bubble would get all messed up during the color application.) I then heated the glass and shaped it for the optic mold. I dropped the glass into the mold, which cuts the outer layer of color into stripes. I heated the color again, and turned the pipe while dragging the color stripes along the marver, adding the twist. To finish the color twist, I used the diamond shears to grab a nubbin of glass on the bottom of the piece and rolled the pipe down the bench rails while holding the nubbin with the shears.
I then shaped and blew the bowl form out, and heated the rim to give it the ruffled shape.
As always, thanks to the husband for the photography.
- Glass Pumpkin 2010 #2.
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4.29.2010
Here is another of my attempts at a glass pumpkin. I did this one during a "blow your own" session at Blowing Sands, a little glassblowing studio quite close to home. This pumpkin is less than perfect because I asked to do more in way of heating and shaping the piece than with previous pieces. But I still think it's quite cute!
After shaping the pumpkin body, it still needs a stem, which I find quite intimidating. You have to gather a bit, pick up the color, and dunk it in the mold. Then you attach it to the pumpkin, twist the bitrod, and swirl it around some kind of tube. Lastly, cut the stem off the pipe and torch the end to smooth it. And you have to do all of this quickly, before the pumpkin body shatters! Lon, the professional glassblower, did this stem.
As always, thanks to the husband for the photography.
- The World's Best Banana Split.
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4.22.2010
This is the world's best banana split. It's got banana halves with a carmlized sugar crust, toasted almond slivers, whipped cream, and a scoop each of chocolate ice cream, strawberry sorbet, and fancy vanilla ice cream. And, of course, it comes with a cherry on top.
- Two Tone Flower Glass Paperweight.
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3.31.2010
I made this glass paperweight during my first glassblowing class at Art By Fire last year, and one of my favorite pieces from that class. I was trying to replicate a red tulip with yellow highlights in the center. I'm looking forward to focusing on more simple flower paperweights when I can grab some time in the shop.
As always, thanks to the husband for the photography.
- Flour - Converting Volume to Weight.
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3.12.2010
When baking, I prefer to measure flour by weight rather than by volume, particularly when measuring flour. The best results come from the precise and repeatable measurement of ingredients that measuring by weight delivers.
To avoid flat cookies like the ones on the left, use this chart to covert the volume-based measurments called for in most recipes into a weight for your kitchen scale.
- Glass Cactus Pumpkins.
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2.20.2010
These are the two pumpkins I made at a Seattle Glassblowing Studio's Pumpkin Making Workshop last October. During this 4 hour workshop, instructors showed me and 5 other people how to work with glass and create the pumpkins. Because I'd had a wee bit of prior experience, I skipped the paperweight part went straight to working on pumpkins.
I love glass pumpkins; I think they're my favorite form. To make a proper pumpkin, the gaffer uses a mold to put the ridges in the pumpkin, and flattens the bubble to the squat pumpkin shape. The assistant (or in this case, the instructor) prepares the stem in a mold, and twists it around a pipe to make the curly stem.
Unfortunately, these pumpkins weren't quite perfect. The taller one got a to long jackline, so I couldn't squat it correctly. Then we put the stem on a bit too hot, and it ended up looking like a cactus. The second one came out a little better; I was able to flatten the piece. The stem was again, a bit too hot, and made a big giant connection on the top of the pumpkin.
I later caught several other pumpkin "blow your own" events, and those came out much better. But I do plan to do a pumpkin workshop if available later this year.
- Phoenix Mix Ornament.
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1.25.2010
I made this ornament at a "Blow Your Own" event at Art By Fire. This particular mix of frit makes me think of phoenix; the mythical firebird. As always, thanks to the husband for the lovely photo.
I was pleased with how this ornament came out. I like being able to see just a bit of clear in-between the opaque bits of frit. You can get a sense of the motions which created this ornament by the shaping of the colored bits: the bottom of the ornament is blown out while the top is squeezed in.
- Snickerdoodles.
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1.15.2010
While these aren't my personal favorite cookie, they are my most requested cookie. The husband and many co-workers agree that these are the best snickerdoodles in the world. I keep the cinnamon and sugar mixture on-hand in a small jar; I re-use it for the next batch of snickerdoodles, or on buttered toast. Here's the recipe.
- Troublecat is Trouble.
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1.5.2010
Our Miss Ingrid has a well earned reputation for causing trouble. Here she is modeling the evidence of an escapade that didn't go so well.
We had purchased some slippers decorated with large fluffy feathery bits, and left them in a paper bag on our nightstand when we went out. When we came home, this is how we found Ingrid. She had been going after the irresistably fluffy slippers, and got caught inside the bag's handles.
She eventually found a way free of the bag, and probably spent the rest of the afternoon under the bed. We cut her loose after we had preserved the moment for prosperity.
- Domestic Brilliance.
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11.23.2009
The husband is quite brilliant around the house. He devised this elegant solution to preventing the marks that our new metal shower rack kept leaving on the shower tile. He cut some plastic tubing into inch long strips, and sliced down one side of each tube to create a jacket. He then slid the tube jackets around the legs of the shower rack, where they act as a sturdy bumper between tile and rack. How very clever!
- Halloween 2009.
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11.01.2009
I made these cute (and tasty) ghost cupcakes for Halloween this year. They are constructed from this chocolate cake recipe (bake regular sized cupcakes for 17 minutes), the "Love Buns" topping, and some eyeball sprinkles that I found at Cookies in Ballard. The frosting did fall a little overnight, so next time I'll try a full on seven minute frosting recipe.
- Glass Work - First Half of 2009.
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10.27.2009
In April, the husband and I took a vacation to the Lincoln City area of the Oregon coast. We happened upon the Lincoln City Glass Center, so I signed up to blow my very own glass float.
In June, I took a beginner's glass blowing class at Art By Fire. During the four 4 hour classes, I made a bowl, a drinking glass, an ornament, paperweights and sculptures.
In addition to structured classes, Art By Fire also offers once a month special events where even the absolute beginner can walk in and (guided heavily by the pros) create a piece in 15 minutes. In the first half of the year, I made another ornament and two small bowls during these events.
Here is a close up of the glass bowl that I made during the beginner's class. I've filled it with the cute jack-o-lantern Lindt truffles for Halloween. The bowl will last much longer than the truffles.
Many thanks to the husband for his effort producing all these wonderful photographs.
- Love Buns.
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9.27.2009
Last month, I made a new recipe for cupcakes - or "Love Buns". The cakes were a bit dense, and the frosting approached a marshmallow consistency. These cupcake came out a little boring, but the would make a good sturdy base for strong flavors.
- PAX '09.
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9.8.2009
This weekend I went to PAX - a gaming exposition in Seattle put on by the folks at Penny Arcade. It was a ton of fun, though the Saturday night concerts (with opening band Freezepop, Headliners Paul and Storm, and Closing Act Jonathan Coulton) until 2 am was a little extreme. I also came home with a little unanticipated swag.
- Cupcakewrecks.
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9.1.2009
I love cupcakes in ice cream cones; my mom made some very cute clown versions when I was a kid. Unfortunately, my ice cream cone cupcakes didn't work as well. The erupted batter on the outside burnt into an unremovable crust. As you can see here, I frosted (dipped, really) and decorated them anyway. They look a little wrecky, but I think they're also a bit charming.
- Captain Ron's / The Dory Cove.
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8.10.2009
Ron's appeared to be the successor to the Dory Cove, inheriting their menu and (supposedly) cookbook. During last spring's trip, the husband and I checked Captain Ron's out.
Sadly, Captain Ron's is rather less than the Dory cove. If you go, go for the chowder; somehow it's not as good as at the Dory Cove, but it's quite good. Skip the fried seafood - it was quite heavy on the "fried" and light on the "seafood".
- Chocolate Pods.
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7.24.2009
These chocolate pods from a real live cacao tree seemed browner in person than the photograph would indicate.
- Pihea Vista.
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7.23.2009
Oh yes, we made it to Pihea Vista - there and back on the dastardly vertical 1.8 mile Pihea trail. Behind us is (probably) Mt. Wai'ale'ali, and in front of us is a huge drop down Napali to the Pacific Ocean.
- Snorkeling, Helicopters, Snorkeling.
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7.22.2009
I discovered snorkeling in Kauai. I'd rather be snorkeling than doing pretty much anything else.
We also took a helicopter tour of the island of Kauai. I assure you, there's a rainbow in that picture.
Here is a Moorish Idol, taken from Poipu Beach near our condo. Credit to the husband for taking this photo.
- Around Poipu.
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7.18.2009
The condo we stayed at is right against an idyllic beach in Poipu.
An astonishg variety of fruit bearing trees grows all over Hawaii - such as coconut, pineapple, avocado, and papaya. Here are some avocados growing in old Koloa town square near Poipu.
Just a quick drive from Poipu is a water fountain created by waves rushing through a lava tube called Spouting Horn.
- USS Arizona Memorial.
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7.17.2009
This memorial crosses the sunken remains of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Only a couple dozen people at a time are allowed on the memorial.
- Waikiki Beach.
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7.15.2009
The beaches at Waikiki were irresistible. The water was clear and warm, and very calm.
We ended up at Cheeseburger in Paradise for dinner - not related to the nearby Jimmy Buffet's or his Margaritavilles. Here I am enjoying a tropical drink.
- Mokolii Rock.
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7.14.2009
This is Mokolii Rock, also known as Chinaman's Hat on Oahu. Our tour bus driver to the Polynesian Cultural Center pulled off at this view point and asked if anyone would like to get out and take pictures?
- Glass Sculpture.
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7.12.2009
By demand, here is another glass piece that I made during the last of my beginner's glass blowing classes. It's a free-form sculpture roughly 9 inches high. It's got a bit of a bulbous oval at the bottom, and as I flared the top edges, they took on a tail-fin appearance. It was fun to make; an exercise in working the materials into a shape that I liked. Next time I might go for a more definite fish shape.
- Snorkel Fish!
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7.3.2009
Snorkeling is awesome. Many thanks to the husband for getting a waterproof camera bag for our trip, and for his advice and guidance tweaking the photo in Adobe Photoshop.
- My Globby Glass.
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6.24.2009
This is my globby glass. I made it during my second glass blowing class. It's a drinking vessel; that's right folks, it will contain liquid! It may be blobby and misshapen, but I love it, because I made it. Many thanks to the husband for taking the photo.
- Making Glass.
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5.24.2009
I enjoy that working with glass is both an art and a technical craft. Each finished piece is absolutely unique, and very different from more common 'arts and crafts'. Most of all, I like the permanence of glass pieces. Practically all of the work I do on computers is intangible, always changeable, and never perfected. Once glass is done, it's done, and it's going to last a very very long time.
- A Sounders FC Supporter.
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5.13.2009
Cotten is more pleased to be sitting in my office chair than he is to wear the Sounders scarf.
- Irish Soda Bread.
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3.11.2009
This recipe for Irish Soda Bread (white, rather than whole wheat) is reasonably easy and very forgiving. It's a great if you just want to start making your own homemade bread.
- What Did I Say About the Taunting?
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1.4.2009
As we were driving home from some lovely half-price gift card shopping, we started getting some rain with hard middles hitting our windshield. The husband boldly proclaimed that it wasn't remotely cold enough to stick. The snow, which did not like being taunted in this manner, quickly set it's mind to sticking. And here's our backyard now.
- Do Not Taunt Seattle Weather.
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12.18.2008
Today, the Seattle city core finally got the snow that had been threatening for the past few days. It snowed little flakes all day long, and got very windy during the middle of the day. The cats love work from home days.
- Red Velvet Cupcakes.
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10.20.2008
I decided to make some Red Velvet cupcakes this weekend. Do they look like anything to you? Pumpkins, perhaps?
- Chocolate Cupcakes.
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7.30.2008
These are some chocolate cupcakes I made this weekend. You can get the cupcake recipe here, and the frosting recipe here.
- Literally Not Enough Room.
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6.4.2008
"The cart size of the DS makes it impossible to put out ports of any of our old graphic adventures. There's literally not enough room on those carts to put the games out." - Jeffrey Gullett, LucasArts assistant producer, from Game|Life
Yes, Mr. Gullett, I can see that it is physically not enough room to fit those big old games on DS cards. But I'm sure that LucasArts' large and talented staff of programmers can figure something out.
- My Enemy - the Fat Cell.
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6.3.2008
You can get your own cute plushy enemy for inspiration from Thinkgeek.com.
- Synchronized Napping.
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5.2.2008
The kitties have been practicing since last summer. They are now world class champions at napping.
- Ballard News.
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3.20.2008
Here is the little old lady's house in Ballard, that is on the lot where a commerical complex (including a Trader Joe's and a gym) is being built.
- Cats and Mice.
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2.13.2008
For Christmas, my mom knitted these wool mice, and filled them with organic catnip. Do the kitties like them? Why, yes, they like them very much.
- These Cookies are Not a Lie.
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12.9.2007
These are basically sugar cookies, filled with jam, dusted with powdered sugar, and drizzled with chocolate. The green ones are filled with mint jelly, and red ones are filled with our homemade raspberry jam.
- Drooly Jack O' Lantern.
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10.29.2007
Last night the husbad and I carved a pumpkin. We're very pleased with our Jack O' Lantern, even if it is a little drooly.
- Halloween Cupcakes - Success!
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10.8.2007
Success! These Halloween cupcakes came out much better than those from last year, especially in the frosting department. But I do wish I'd had paper liners.
- Meet Ingrid and Cotten.
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7.26.2007
Sweet and cute and fluffy, times two. What more could you ask for?
- Canada - Redeemed.
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6.25.2007
Here are some photos for our recent anniversary trip to Victoria. Though the husband took the photo of the fire juggler, I took all the rest.
We went to the Butterfly Gardens, an indoor butterfly zoo. I don't know recall the name of the large blue butterflies, but they're quite tricky to photograph, because they very rarely open up their wings when they land. I got very lucky - twice!
We also spent a lot of time at Butchart Gardens. Lovely. I also dig snapdragons.
- Skagit Valley Tulips
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4.15.2007
These are some of the photos I took from our trip to the Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley on Sunday. That evening, I ordered a bunch of tulip bulbs to plant in fall.
- Harbor Blossoms
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3.4.2007
The pink exploded all over Seattle this month. I took this picture much earlier in the month.
- Poor Goomba
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2.2.2007
He just can't get this CSS figured out.
- Arctic Invasion
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1.12.2007
It freakin' snowed again. Everyone always says Seattle never gets this kind of weather, but Chudson says that we always get the Arctic fronts first. Here's a picture of it snowing on our apartment just after we got home Wednesday night.
The hubby and I both got new cameras for Christmas, so took them outside and we both took several pictures. It got a little meta.
The apartments highest on the hill have a nice view of downtown Seattle.
This yellow cab was crazy. He kept trying to get up the steep steep hill that larger cars were having trouble with. Look under his front, and you can see he's got a traffic cone stuck there!
The little mailvan in the distance was working hard, and just barely managing to get up the hill. Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, eh?
- Snow, Snow!
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11.28.2006
A mid-day shot of our apartment under the snow. It's somewhat thin, but very crunchy because we're still below freezing in the middle of the day.
- Me and My Office
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11.21.2006
We have a saying at the office. "People who do real work have dual monitors."
Check out that nice tall comfy pleather chair. It goes "poof" when I sit in it. Special thanks to Mey for the awesome posters.
Why, yes, that bright thing in the back of my office is a window. I can see the real world though it. This image shows, clockwise from the lower left corner, my window view from left to right.
- Halloween Cupcakes
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10.31.2006
If you've screwed up your frosting, just cut out some shapes as stencils, and sprinkle confectioner's sugar over them.
- White Water Rafting
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7.21.2006
When I was working at Hollywood Video, we had took a white water rafting trip as a team building activity. At first I was very worried about falling out or being very bad at rafting, but it was really awesome! It was the most fun I've ever had on a work day!
Ah, the Clackamas river. What better way to cool down on a 105° day? In both these pictures, I'm on the left side, second helmet back.
- The Balancing Rock
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5.29.2006
Here's the Balancing Rock from the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. No tricks on the other side, it's just like that.
- Groom's Cake
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5.28.2006
Here's the groom's cake from a recent wedding we attended. Lucky groom! I got a little of that action, and it was fine.
- Tulips
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4.10.2005
I love tulips. Here are some I grew in my backyard. They're bulbs, and the awesome thing about bulbs is that for the first year, all the work is already done. Just toss them into a hole, and water sometimes. It's so easy.
- What is it?
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8.25.2005
Seriously, I don't know. I know it's in Disneyland, but damned if I can figure out what it is.
