This is my Teapot

Or, rather, this is a picture of a teapot that is exactly like the teapot that my husband purchased for me at the Dudeldorfer Christmas Market in early December of this year. There are two differences between this pot pictured and the one in my dining room: My pot has a thin orange pinstripe detail to accentuate those fine curves...

...and, my teapot suffers from depression and desires to kill itself.


Shocking, I know.

And just how does one learn this about their teapot? Well, I felt "sure sure" after months of suspicion, when the other day he lept to his partial demise from the top of my dining room buffet / hutch onto the matching solid hardwood table, and then rolled to the floor underneath. But there were subtle hints first, like volunteering to be packed and shipped in our movement from overseas (whereas the rest of our belongings were dreading it), and apparently even talking the packers into not using paper. This pot, I swear.

The exceptionally good news here is that there is no visible damage to the outside of the pot, the lid, the finish. The moderately bad news is that the inner tea basket, which is all porcelain and interlocks with the lid bottom, has broken around its locking ring at the top. I was very proud of this tea basket, it was the best feature of the pot, all pristine and unstained, and in perfect condition... but no more. *frown*

Okay, the best news is that the creamer and sugar were smart enough to keep their distance. The worst news (which loses it's impact due to lack of camera) is that in his leap, this crestfallen pot brought down one of my most cherished silly things. Of all silly things, the very one that I was holding and admiring only the day before.

I will have to go into more detail on that little loss and the lessons learned in the future, when I can elaborate with photos. Why so much noteworthiness in the one week I am sans camera?

Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like an accident at all. Apparently the teapot was jealous of my affection. I should go cuddle him... because I am grateful for his presence, despite his broken heart.

Note: The picture above was borrowed without permission from the following blog: www.dailyicon.net/2009/02/icon-tac-tea-pot-by-walter-gropius-for-rosenthal/ It is a short and informative post that makes me sound like I have a super-genius hawk-eye for spotting my Rosenthal Studio-Linie TAC Teapot in an antiques booth set up in the stall of an 18th century barn at a Christmas market in western Germany. Thank you, people who researched and wrote that.

A Day Without a Camera.

I suck at photography. Up until yesterday, I had a little pocket digital - a Sony DSC-T1 that has served me well since I bought it for my trip to Sydney in 2004 - and even when it was in perfect working order, I rarely used or charged it, or carried it along on outings for some reason. I never learned to use any but the point-and-shoot features, and there are probably only a heaping handful of shots that came from that camera that I am truly proud of. And it wasn't for lack of might in the camera. As far as I'm concerned, it was great, and I just sucked at owning it.

Well, recently I began learning this about myself, and improving this skill became more of a priority. I want to take really excellent pictures for the Etsy store, and I want to catalogue some projects I have made for a new portfolio....

And then yesterday, as I am back in the yard, trying to photo some ashtrays in an alluring manner, the camera, this little champion of abuse and redemption, well it just quit. It's done. I no longer have a camera. And what a day to have no camera! I can't even describe this, so I list for you everything I would have taken pictures of yesterday:

*The dowstairs bathroom - as I scraped away the floral horror that was its wallpaper,

*The humming birds - as they played around the feeder we just hung,

*The upstairs bathroom(s) - toilets being removed, rot being discovered, and remodels being planned... all impromptu,

*The woodpile that I stacked so neatly against the fence.... it looks nice,

*An assortment of vintage dishware items and handmade recycled coasters for the Etsy.

And that's probably not everything. Good timing Sony :)

The good news is that I blessed myself with a used Canon Rebel XT from ebay, and it should be here this week! And sorry Emi and Kari for ripping off your camera choice - but I am smart enough to trust you ladies, and I love the shots this camera is capable of........ now, to learn to use it.

Fun With GIMP

I have decided to learn to use GIMP as my primary means of digital editing.... with the hopes of actually being able to digitally edit things. I think that makes sense. Not being the technological type, I tend to shy away from software that is expensive, hard to use, or come with volumes of necessary manuals. That is why I like GIMP - it is a free download, and you can pretty much learn to use it without any input or prior knowledge. That is about where I started from, and I think I am finally getting to the point that I can manipulate an image in a way that I am pleased with on a consistent basis. I still may not be "good" per se, but I am coming along, and I am having fun. Compare the banner at any given time to this original photograph... and you can see where I am progressing from.

This is actually a photo of a piece of fabric which was screen printed with a black design and hand-colored with glittery Speedball screen print ink.

This image was designed through a union of my brain and the hand of Ms Kari B. Several original item have been produced with this image, including wall hangings, pillows, t-shirts, and hoodies - each of which was individually finished by either Kari or myself for a completely unique effect. On my recent trip BACK to Germany (I know, that was quick, huh?), Kari was gracious enough to tattoo me with this lovely symbol... pics of which can be seen here: www.myspace.com/paintedvintage which is Kari's page, and checking out the art and tattoos folder in her pics!


So fun, now I get to play with this cute and versatile picture on my computer everyday, and you get to see what I make... and maybe someday I can branch out and do something with another image, but for now I am having fun... it is like a big kid's coloring book on caffeine and diet pills.

Avant Gardening

Inspired by Kari and encouraged by the consistent sunniness, I have been sticking seeds in the ground. This first photo shows just that... (albeit poorly.)

This is a cluster of sprouts that resulted from my tossing of a bell pepper core into the soil between my marigolds.

I had / have very big plans for those little sprouts, as in I am going to turn them into a small army of fruiting beauties and never have to buy a pepper again... but, well, the "had" part (the sad part) is that over the 4th of July weekend they shriveled and died and are now forgotten by all but me.


The good arising from this tragic loss of little lives is that I should be able to repeat these results with little to no effort. I just have to buy ONE MORE pepper. But that will be the last one, honest.


This next very unclear photo is of two thriving sprouts of watermelon, grown from seeds that were germinated indoors and planted on a mound inside of the handy little peat-cup provided by the manufacturers of the little Veggie Tales grow your own water-melon kit that got us into this whole thing. So far the little guys are doing great, though in this photo there are two stalks and not the 3 that there initially were. Last night I spotted the first of the big stalk's characteristic corkscrew tendrils. It was cute.


Aside from these humble little guys, I have been largely unsuccessful with growing, but I am still hopeful that the seeds I harvested from my marigolds will grow. I waited for the flower head to dry and fall off the still living stalk, and then separated the seeds by pulling them out of their hull. I sprinkled them over a pot with a fine mixture of potting soil and my own compost soil, and raked them under just a tad. A nightly watering and lots of sunlight should, soon (cross your fingers), turn them into lots more cheery orange flowers.