Obama's many forms

I think Obama's inspired more works of art/craft than any other living famous person, including Martha Stewart. (Overall, musicians have it in the bag, I think, with folks like the Ramones and the Dresden Dolls being at the top of the pack).

Of course, you have the stencils. The most iconic and most replicated and most satirized comes from OBEY.



If you live in Portland, you can see WW's version, featuring Palin and a NOPE underneath.

More stencilled Obamas:
tee, Give Peace A Chance Obama/Biden tee, Change we can believe in massive 80s style lettering on a tee, and Barack to the Future tee.

So paint is a totally expected medium, you say. You remain unexcited, even after the Back to the Future flip. Fine. Well, what about beans?!



or yarn?!?!


I remember Al Gore being accused of being wooden, but this Obama is more literal.

How about having your president, and eating him too? Yeah, kinda weird, but hell, take a peek. And not nearly as weird as some of the cakes on cakewrecks.

Here's another yarny tribute to Obama's campaign. A knitted hat?!!
in rib and stockinette

There are tons more. It's nice to know that folks are interested in politics and interested in DIY. It feeds the hopeful wolf inside me.

So not to leave Palin out, a supporter made a shirt that's pro-governor-from-alaska.
.
Yes, that does say VPILF. Yes, I also assume that it means Vice President I'd Like to Fuck. Yes, that kind of proves the point that republicans have lost touch with reality. Or maybe they're so IN touch with the reality that I try to pretend doesn't exist - the reality that sells thongs to pre-teens, that thinks all black folks love malt liquor and rap and fried chicken*, that thinks it's ok to use sex to hawk anything from cars to handbags to idealogy. ffffsssssskkkkk.

*I'm muttering something under my breath about African American vegans, my grandma's delicious fried chicken, and well done off-the-radio rap, all of which exist. Except for the fried chicken, because my grandma is fairly recently afraid of cholesterol.

Washcloth Swap

Alright. No more swaps 'til after the winter holidays. Except maybe one or two more washcloth swaps! They're fast, easy, and fun. Kind of like me. Or not.

Here's what I made my partner, ellen-j, in the last washcloth swap:



Yep, that's one massive blue one, a regular sized red one, and a cute hand sized egg one.

Speaking of cute, it's hard to go wrong with kitties. Here's ellen-j's handcrafted gift to me:


But wait, there's more!!
This is garnet stitch. The whole washcloth is generously sized. Too big for the internet, even. No really, the close-up is the best shot, and the full shots just don't do it justice.


and that's all!
oh wait! it isn't all!
spider attak teh kittah!!!!!


AND it's stealing my coffee. I'm not sure which is worse.

note to self

Put this:
"our RSVP will include the statement "I'll get up and dance if you play ___________________" on your RSVP card for the wedding.

Totally stolen idea from this thread, complements of sasto.

Another reason to love craftster.

deodorant recipes

From craftster
here. more later.
Please note I did not write any of this. The below are from craftster and bust magazine.

***************************

1/2 cup cocoa butter
1 cup coconut oil
9 oz. beeswax

when melted add:
1 Tbsp tea tree oil
2 tbsp lavender e.o.
2 tbsp castor oil
2 tbsp thyme e.o
2 tbsp rosemary e.o
1 cup baking soda

Mix well and pour into deodorant containers.

*********************************

Cream Deodorant
1 T coconut oil
1 T shea butter
15 drops Essential Oil
1 t cornstarch
2 t baking soda
*Melt-n-mix, put in a pot and apply with fingertips.

I personally, have been using 5 drops tea tree oil (it kills bateria, which causes the odor!), 5 drops orange essential oil, and 10 drops lavendar oil to this,

***************************
added to this page 10/17/2010
Bust magazine Dec/Jan 2009 by Amy Karol.
IN a double boiler (I use a glass measuring cup in a pot of simmering water), melt 3 Tbsp organic (if possible) unrefined shea butter, 3 Tbsp baking soda, 2 tbsp arrowroot powder or corstartch, 2 Tbsp organic unrefined cocoa butter, and 2 vitamin E oil gel caps (puncture and squeeze otu the oil) as an optional natural preservative. Give it a good stir. When liquefied, remove the mixture from heat, pour into a 1/4 pint jar, and stir in 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (I used ylang-ylang and sweet orange). Place in the fridge for a few hours until solid. Then take it out, and let it come to room temperature (don't store it in teh refrigerator). The texture will be somewhere beteween a firm cream and a soft solid. To use, scoop out a pea-size amount with your fingers and apply to your armpit. Be gentle, especially after shaving. A slightly wet armpit makes for easier spreading. This 1/4 pint jar will give you at least three odor-free months.

First Time Angel need

I've never been on the receiving end of a swap angel, but my partner in the "Pimp My Craftster Username" Flaked out on me. First time for everything, I guess. I had already sent her her package ages ago.

So here's what she got:
Group shot!


Lapblanket:


Otherside:


She mentioned that she got her name from the "Monkey see, monkey do, monkey get in trouble too!" saying, and also from the crafty inspiration craftster brings her: she sees the cool things other people make and it inspires her to give it a go. Totally could relate. Anyway, between her sentiments and a reread of the copycat issue of Craft magazine, I started thinking about ripples and concentric circles and the spread of ideas. That's why there's increasing silhouette stitching around the monkey face. That, and it holds the layers together pretty well :)

A little bookmark made of craft paper, a lightweight drawing paper, and pen and markers:


Mojo the Helper Monkey:



A sign for her craft area:

1950s Swap

I've signed up for a 1950s swap on craftster.org. My swapmate left my options wide open, which is nice. I crocheted a bag, but I'm not sure how she'll feel about the color. I might make a little blue cloche with a brown ribbon. And something embroidered. Hmmm.