recovery program

Attention unlazy folks!  Do you make, do you do? Have you found the key to conquering inactivity? If the answer is yes, then you've already taken care of the hardest steps. Now comes the easy part -- share your success with the world, joining others in supporting the battle against laziness. Become a member of the Recovery Program;  check out the details and ways to contribute here.

book plate

I have wanted to make bookplates for ages and it's one of those things I haven't gotten around to yet. I saw this from Bad Penny Press and was naturally enamored; it could be an illustrated cousin to the 12 Step philosophy.

recovery tokens

Well add this to the growing list of silly projects I've come up. I have made little recovery tokens. I wanted to be able to give folks something for their support, a reward and reminder for in essence opposing laziness.

Each token is a mini-mattress made from real mattresses. Yes, maybe gross, but I was going for the symbolism in tearing up the ultimate lazy crutch... the bed. The fabric is washed and encased in resin, and completed with a tag. So each token is one of a kind. It is then put in a handmade "pillow case", again made from re-purposed lazy materials -- real pillow cases. My sewing skills are about 2nd grade level, if that exists, so you'll have to pardon any crooked seams. Last, all tokens come with a mini-12 Step Guide.

These will be given to anyone that sponsors me, donating to my "making things fund". I think I will give these to anyone that makes a purchase from my shop, but if that happens I need to continue scouting out garbage bins across Austin. Doesn't that sound fun.

Below are some photos that should give you and idea what these baby beds look like.

weekly prescription

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Simon & Schuster ]
Watch -- [ Vimeo ]
Listen -- [ Gil Scott Theron ]
Do -- [ Yizzle ]
Austin Event -- [ Paramount Theatre ]

weekly prescription

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Day Trip Society ]
Watch -- [ Cooking with Dog ]
Listen -- [ YouTube ]
Do -- [ Mr. Doob ]
Austin Event -- [ Mellow Mushroom Facebook ]

new in the shop!

As a fan of Scout Books I couldn't resist trying out their "Make Your Own" option. I can't say that my design is going to set the world on fire but as a dedicated list maker and promoter of a 12 Step Program I am happy to have yet another tool in my efforts to do things and assist others.

If you would like one they are available for sale in my shop. Each "Journal of Doing" comes with a custom white pencil that has an inspirational message or one of the 12 steps on it. More specifics, like size and materials are listed at my shop as well.

overcoming creative block

There is a great post on ISO50 discussing with 25 artists how they overcome a creative block. Bottom line, it varies from person to person. What to truly gain from the article is a comfort in knowing it happens to everyone. My strategy generally involves not trying (or making fun of my lameness). Genius right. I however do not have any sort of career that is dependent on my creative juices, as much as I wish I did. That would be a fun challenge.

Link via Swiss Miss.

book club

One night my friends and I somehow got on the topic of reading books and how fun it would be to start a book club. My own rationale was maybe it would inspire me to finally revisit the written word and test my imagination, two things that sorely needed a kick-start.

I chose the first novel, which was Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon. I don't want to get into dissecting it here and now, because guess what... we have yet to have our meeting and I don't want to spoil anything. Someday... I have not given up hope. For some reason though I can not let an opportunity for a project pass me by and I managed to turn our club into a selfish venture, taking it upon myself to not only name our group but also make everyone bookmarks. Neither idea has really been acknowledged, which is ok; I often am more enthusiastic about my creative adventures than I should be.

I deemed us "Pulp Friction (Cool books for heated discussions)". And no, the book The Complete Book of Absolutely Perfect Housekeeping" (shown above) doesn't really qualify as a "cool book", I just like the cover.

Whatever ends up happening with our group I'm just proud that I remembered how to read and finished a whole book. I can't knock motivators for making things either. Now let's see if I have it in me to tackle another piece of pulp. Any recommendations?

need to want less: change

So this may or may not be an official return to the world of blogging. I make no promises.

I have tweaked a couple of things on the layout... enough to satisfy my "wound picking" nature, but not so much that I got in over my head and messed everything up. I still have plans to update my website and add some new things to my shop, but one step at a time.

Right now I have my sights on doing... doing anything, and a lot of it. Part of this will involve listening to my own advice and try something new, most especially with photography. The thrill is still there and I'm not saying I am abandoning my favorite subject matters (I am what I am after all and like what I like), but I need to try some other approaches before I bore myself.

I also am most likely saying goodbye to Little Pink Spoon, not that it was any brilliant endeavor, rather a running collection of images I like. Keeping up with it makes me tired. Tumblr as a whole makes me tired, especially as an extra project. I have been enjoying the last few months less tied to my computer and when time management (including what I'm doing, where it's at, and with whom it's spent) hits a good rhythm, well I'm going to stick with it.

Rambling point conclusion... focus and cultivate what I like, mix it up, and ditch the excess.

ready to ride

I was graciously gifted a bicycle for my birthday... in JULY. Thanks to my ever-generous father it is now at home with me. I'm so excited! I want to ride my bicycle.

[ Image credit ??? ]

what next? try the book seer

Ever finished a book and found yourself asking "what now?", jonesing for either an equally gratifying follow-up or a read to get the bad taste out of your brain? The Book Seer is the ticket. With a couple of quick entrees -- last (enjoyable) book and author's name -- the site sifts through a few other literary-based web offerings for some suggestions.

I tried Choke simply because it was the first thing to pop into my head. Amazon's picks were pretty pointless... more Chuck Palahniuk books, really? LibraryThing was a bit more diverse however. You can probably figure all of this out by simply cutting to the chase and starting at Amazon or LT, but getting caught up in the gimmick is definitely more fun.

[ via Internet Therapy ]

aiming high and higher

Now here is a list I could really use. Not an everyday sort of list but one that could certainly get me focused for some long term life changes. Right now this gal can fill up both sides easily... getting it all done will be the harder part. As always you can download your own copy (black and white version) from my website.

[ download dreams and goals list ]

weekly prescription

Welcome to this week's mixed bag of fun and doing! Check out the zesty and clever typographic flairs added to the plate over at River Restaurant; when Where the Wild Things Are and A Serious Man are sold out seek out the acclaimed documentary Afghan Star; consider YACHT's mission statement but don't forget to tap your toe in the process; #657 out of 1,000 gives you a chance to revisit the unpopulated McDonaldland (is Grimace homeless now?); and hope that Broken Lizard is as funny in person as they were in Super Troopers.


HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ River Restaurant and/or this ]
Watch -- [ Afghanstardocumentary.com ]
Listen -- [ The Hype Machine ]
Do -- [ 1000 Awesome Things ]
Austin Event -- [ Paramount Theatre Box Office ]

the shop has photography and stuff!

Holy cow, I never thought this day would come. I FINALLY have something for sale in my dusty Etsy shop. I can not decide if this is exciting or anticlimactic. On the one hand I am beyond glad to have scratched something off a list and fulfill a little dream, but I also wonder if anyone will want anything and if I "done good". I don't know... I will think about it later because I am a little bit tired of looking at the thing right now.

To give you a quick overview of what's in there before signing off --

A few 5 x 5 Polaroid prints; 5 selections from the "Want to Need Less" series and 5 selections from the "One Minute Photoshop" series, all of which are 8 x 8 prints; a set of 5 magnets from the "Reminders" series; and last, a silly selection of "prescriptions" ranging from mini lists, to mini reminders, to mini creative exercises of sorts.

I still feel a bit unsure of everything from pricing to descriptions to shipping and so on, but I think it's all affordable, fair, and straight forward... and hopefully stuff someone somewhere wants.

I also will have more things added within the week... large photo prints from the "Reminders" series as well as prints of photos featured on my website (images that are actually letter/word free). Then I can let the shop be and see if people will come. I have to say that I am glad to move on to the next thing on my list, which is starting my "Lazyholic Do's and Don'ts" project and taking LOTS of photos. I have missed you camera.

Thanks in advance if you go to my shop and please let me know if you have any questions/requests.

AND thank you parents and sponsors for helping me fund the supplies/materials to get this off the ground once and for all!!!!

don't call it a comeback

Ok... maybe, sort of, a comeback. I am promising to slink back into posting and hopefully the world of the productive. T.V. viewing has lost its luster after some heavy binging, sleeping has been equally indulgent but not very fulfilling, and so the next best therapy I can come up with for my sullen and crabby feelings is to jump on the horse and try, try, try. Or try-ish... on perhaps a pony.

P.S. There have a been a few folks that have written me and/or posted a comment. I swear I will write you back.

image credit [ Verity Keniger via Design For Mankind ]

weekly prescription

Yesterday I had the pleasure of receiving a lovely message from someone. And when I say lovely, I mean angry. And when I say someone, I mean a person that did not like me using their artwork on my site. Now I don't claim to be above scrutiny here, and although I did give name credit and link to the original site I did not ask for permission and I certainly should have. I realize there are certain codes that one has to adhere to in this technological bloggy world, some more fiercely than others depending on the person/artist in question. So that said I offer my sincerest apologies again for overlooking and breezing past this person's preferences... I assure you it was without malice.

With this back story sufficiently laid out, and without trying to sound hokey, it seemed like a good time to prescribe some general means for being nicer. A good point can be lost when it's covered in shit, and while nice guys might finish last, they certainly will also live longer.

This week try to understand why people use the golden rule, follow Patrick Swayze's Road House philosophy, Relax, attract better health with honey, and then look on the bright side of life. And after this meditative journey, if anyone still wants to verbally kick my ass, knock yourself out... I'll be living in stress free bliss with the company of dachshunds, watching the occasional episode of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Amazon ]
Watch -- [ Daily Motion ]
Listen -- [ MP3 Link ]
Do -- [ Organic Facts ]
Austin Event -- [ Paramount Theatre ]

weekly prescription

Sometimes ideas and thoughts have an accidental way of aligning. Such is the case with this week's prescription. An old friend that Facebook found for me (an actual friend suggestion that was logical) turns out is coming out with a book soon, penned by her and her siblings. After looking at the site I simply can't wait and in an effort to help them achieve their dream of becoming a bestseller I want to do my part and urge folks to buy an advance copy. Trust me, you don't need to know her for this book to be a good read.

I also just heard the horrible news about John Hughes passing, which I could not ignore, and that along with the Public School (a bunch of local talents that are part of a collective) art show, a theme ended up making itself (and if that is a grammatically correct sentence I will be very surprised).

So channel your inner child, get a little angsty, soothe it with some Pepto ice cream, and go back to school for a bit. There are no trips to the Principal or homework required.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ The Kids Are All Right Book ]
Watch -- [ IMDB ]
Listen -- [ MP3 Link ]
Do -- [ BuzzFeed ]
Austin Event -- [ Public School ]

weekly prescription

There is no theme this week, unless you consider doing great things a theme. So learn how to swallow a sword, laugh like it's 1992, get funky, relax with a home brew, and if you're in Austin check out some illustrated art. Whew, you're probably so exhausted now. Go have another beer... you deserve it.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Alibris ]
Watch -- [ The State ]
Listen -- [ Phenomenal Handclap Band ]
Do -- [ Instructables ]
Austin Event -- [ Birdhouse Gallery ]

weekly prescription

Hard to believe that summer is halfway over. I would say it's all downhill from here, but the newness (and therefore joy) of swimming days and sultry nights is over and the death heat (or in the case of Texas, the SUPER death heat) is now upon us which makes the next month and a half seem extra long. It's time for some activities to distract from the dark side of the season. Jon Stewart is a great way to kick things off with his book Naked Pictures of Famous People. Then get goofy with a silly movie, dance, have some free sugar, and take in some art.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Naked Pictures of Famous People ]
Watch -- [ Wet Hot American Summer ]
Listen -- [ Animal Collective - Last.FM ]
Do -- [ Baskin Robbins - Do Something ]
Austin Event -- [ Diverse Arts Gallery ]

weekly prescription

This week you can do some semi-do gooder things... smalls ways to try to give a damn, do a damn, hear something new, learn something new, and throw in an almost eco-friendly project. Be smarter and better-ish.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Good Magazine ]
Watch -- [ The Lazy Environmentalist ]
Listen -- [ KEXP -- PORTLAND ]
Do -- [ Design Public ]
Austin Event -- [ Rare Austin ]