Small Biz Showcase: Dolls By Sue

Over the river and through the woods....

I enter a room scattered with severed body parts;

This is not the lair of the next "Green River Killer", but the studio of an extraordinary artist and doll maker: Sue Yotz.

Small Biz Showcase: Trevor Larkin Music

10, or 9 TRAITS THAT REAL MUSICIANS (& ENTREPRENEURS) SHOULD HAVE:

In the midst of teaching, performing, session work, and finalizing his latest EP, this magna cum laude graduate from Berklee College of Music paused the chaos to discuss his freelance lifestyle, the music industry, and how he keeps his music honest.
 

How to Build a Cat Exercise Wheel, Part 1

RESEARCH & REVIEW

Bengalized.com Bengal cat on exercise wheel

Bengal cats are renowned for their energetic antics. You bought cat climbing trees, cat condos, cat toys; you tried scratching posts, catnip and cat calming aids, but for those who live with such a feline, you may want to consider buying a exercise wheel.

Current Book: This Time I Dance

This Time I Dance
How one Harvard lawyer left it all to have it all!

by Tama Kieves
www.awakeningartistry.com


"I wanted to read the story of someone who really honored their gifts and put them into the world---what they thought, chose, felt, wished for, and how they faced fear, depression, the judgment of others, and horrendous self-doubt. I was tired of reading experts and easy steps. I wanted someone to tell me how they got through all the emotions that come up and found their way through murky territory. So I wrote that book. I wrote it to talk myself into creative centeredness and boldness and I wrote it for everyone else."



I had nightmares the first few days I started reading this book. Soaking from a cold sweat, I would wake up and get the urge to write because something in me- my body, my dreams- was begging to get out; a knowingness that had been suppressed until the words in this book stirred me.

Eight months ago I reached a point where I could no longer stand putting my life on hold while waking up every day to be led by poor leaders whose training and compassion came from online tutorials, and whose messages were distant and uninspiring.

So I made a call that I had been putting off for a year. Despite the voices in my mind telling me to wait until I "gained some experience", until I had "something to bring to the table", I called and asked if I could do anything to exercise my passion for horses. I've been with the horses now longer than I was at my corporate job, and I am so sparklingly happy. Making that call was my first way to acknowledge my own dreams.

Today, I just barely pay the bills by working independently- with horses, with entrepreneurs and small businesses- but my dreams still feel so cloudy and I still feel so uncertain about my future.

I read This Time I Dance because the title jumped out at me from the shelf while do working in my little borrowed office. I don't make a habit of reading "self-help" books, but I decided to read a bit until I lost interest. This didn't happen. I laughed, and cried, and recited whole passages from the book to the audience of my boyfriend and cat. It was so good to know that I wasn't alone in the confusion and doubt while creating my own work. I felt like I finally had someone who understood; who could hold my hand and tell me that I am neither lost nor alone.

Semi-Serious & Rustic-Chic in Waitsburg, WA

A GASTROPUB OVERVIEW - THE JIM GERMAN BAR

Just outside of Walla Walla and nestled among rolling hills of peas, wheat, and wine lies the small (SMALL) town of Waitsburg. Word had reached Walla Walla that a new gastropub had opened on the town's dusty Main Street and was a must-try. So on word-of-mouth alone, we visited the Jim German Bar (named for the bar's owner) for cocktails and appetizers before walking across the street to the old classic, "Whoopemup".


I had a less than stellar experience at our chosen dinner venue: unrelenting air conditioning coming from all angles including at your feet which is cold and distracting if you are wearing shorts; an order for a medium-rare steak presented as "well-done"; but FANTASTIC deserts!

The beverage options and ambiance at the Jim German, on the other hand, left a lasting positive impression. Jim and his wife are aware of the true meaning of aperitif, and the drinks menu pays homage to many alcohols from around the world. I was particularly excited to see a plethora of Pastis beverages as well as various versions of Vermouth. Additionally, the mixed drinks were delightful and deceptively stiff. Trevor ordered a Mint Julep and I ordered a Pineau des Charents blanc, which was served properly chilled.

We also had the chorizo in red wine ($8) and Claire's Cornucopia Antipasto  ($15-25) - Somewhat small portions for 3-4 people, but the "Etruscan Snacks"  were served unpretentiously and tasted delicious.

The fare was fantastic and gave me a rosy demeanor in which to walk around and explore the space. This is the real reason why I decided to write about the Jim German here.

The space has high ceilings and a rustic-chic air. Overall sparsely decorated, the tables and stools were simple constructions from natural, light wood (after my own table-building experience, I tend to notice the dining furniture wherever I go), which provided a nice contrast to the dark wood floors. The natural hues were  humorously punctuated with a bright blue entrance and a goldenrod-yellow slat ceiling.

A few details stood out most of all:

[1]

Jim is growing hops outside to block the evening sun of his west-facing building.

Although they aren't fully grown, it's a beautiful start and I found them to be really pleasant to the eye against the backdrop of his blue door.

[2] 

The clever menu-display which was floor-to-ceiling brown roll-up paper (I can't wait to do something like this in my own house- if anyone knows where to find this sort of thing, let me know!!):

[3]

The long and light-filled communal dining space, called "Heaven" in reference to the Talking Head song, is adjacent to the main room and accessorized by the owners' artwork, a rolling barn door, and a heartbreakingly perfect architectural brick wall at the end of the room (not pictured very well since I was taking pictures with my boyfriend's phone):

 
[4]
 

And, finally, I was beyond giddy with delight to find a tree- a live, large TREE- in the bathroom!

True to the rest of the building's theme, the bathroom was bright and sparse, with classic colors, a few meaningful details and lovely architectural features.

Project: To Build a Table (another one)

After my first experience with building a workbench/table, I've refined my needs and tastes and am now brainstorming several other ideas.

I've come across my new favorite blog, Knock-Off Wood, that's all about Ana White and her endeavors to create furniture and supply free plans. It is seriously cool.


Perusing her site gave me a couple of great ideas, one of which is a "knock off" of her secret-storage desk:






However, I want the table to be modern & sleek and huge. I'm not sure yet if I'll endeavor to create "secret storage" like the desk above, but I'd like to create an industrial hybrid of Ane White's desk with this kitchen storage (I think the old file cabinets not only look cool but they make for incredibly dynamic, flexible, rolling storage!):

A quick sketch resulted in the following:

(Like I said, it's a SKETCH only)

Not sure of the dimensions yet.

I'll also probably buy some industrial stools- I've always loved the style of Tolix and found some similar stools- the Tabouret on Overstock.com that are closer to my budget:

* I'll post my progress once it gets up and running *



I also found these links to other people's projects that are pretty cool:

Marybicycles

Last Night Of Your Life (LNOYL)

 

INITIALS MARQEE

I found this on The Maiden Metallurgist, and I have to say, it's totally nifty. (What isn't fun about oversized, home wall decor that just happens to be your initials?)

RETAIL versus DIY MARQUEE ON THE CHEAP:

Urban Outfitters - $178  (!@%*!)

The Maiden Metallurgist - $18

   
Need I say more?

Cat Tree Alternatives

Ugly Cat Trees (no offense, cat-tree builders)

 


The Animal loves her ugly little carpeted cat tree (donated by my dad, who was very eager to get it out of his house I might add). I want something for our wonderful kitty to climb and jump and scratch all over, but most cat trees seem like they are simply elevated beds that are always in the way of things. I decided to do a little research….




Two favorites are the HOLLYWOOD FRANKLIN Cat Tower and the HICAT Cat Climber:

Hollywood Franklin

The Appeal:

- Floor-to-ceiling tension (so no worrying about the thing toppling over or needing to find space for a massive base for the tree)

- They both look like an industrial take on something that one would find in NATURE. The Hollywood Franklin looks like a mod tree- perhaps a Ginko. I almost expect the “leaves” to turn bright yellow in the fall. The Hicat looks like one massive tree trunk that you  decided to build your house around instead of chopping down one more tree in the world, and I imagine your cat feels similarly.

- In short: they ain’t BUTT-ugly.

http://hicat.co.uk/

And of course, great things typically have their disillusionments as well:

- PRICE!

In order to purchase a truly functional Hollywood Franklin, I’d have to buy two “Pack A’s” (approx $77/ea) and one or two “Pack B’s” (approx $55/each). So in the end, I’m spending well over $200.00, which I’m just not interested in.

The Hicat, unfortunately, isn’t sold in the US- only in the UK & possibly the EU. If you’re lucky enough to have someone in the UK who will let you use their address for shipping, and then send it over to SEATTLE (where I am), the price- NOT including the eventual international shipping, amounts to about somewhere around 82 – 224… Great Britain Pounds, of course.

So how can somebody with a humble wallet such as mine POSSIBLY get there hands on an attractive, useful cat tree?? Is it the ultimate fate of our kind that we must resort to the hideous, carpeted monstrosities that represent most cat trees under $100? Must we sacrifice for the pleasure of our cats? Can there be NO COMPROMISE?!

This blog entry represents my personal determination to find something budget-friendly, useful, and above all attractive (or at least “artful”), and it is a call to all other do-it-yourselfer’s who detest turning to their wallets, checkbooks and CC’s as the ultimate solutions to these problems. PLEASE comment with any ideas!
Thus far, I’m thinking of seeking donations of emptied carpet rolls from carpet warehouses and Craigslisting sisal rugs….