Ever Green

In case you've been wondering, our tree is still up.

As I mentioned last year, it's been up since 2009. I am sure this seems ridiculous to most people, but it's become a bit of a totem for me.

The tree has stood through job loss, an earthquake (albeit a tiny one) and two massive storms, the loss of two of our beloved cats and bills, bills, bills.

As the pressures of adulthood (which at 42 years old I have decided I will never get used to) continue to mount, the tree stands in defiance of it all.

Somewhere, deep in the recesses of my mind is a much younger me, probably in footsie pajamas, wishing the tree could stay up all year even as pine needles littered the carpet like prickly confetti.

This tree stands for that part of me that thought, "some day, when I grow up, I'll keep the tree up for as long as I want."

Of course, 10 year old me wanted more from life than just to have a the tree up all year. So if anyone has a spare light saber lying around, you know where to send it.

My Latest Creation

I love Cats Necklace by Lifeat30Feet

Mandatory Waiting Periods

Over the years, I have instituted some self-imposed waiting periods on certain activities. It's to keep me out of trouble.

Recently, when a friend was facing a decision, I created this chart to share some of that wisdom with her.

• Eat fries while they are hot
• Deliver Pizza
• Return call for job interview
• Send angry email or write angry blog post
• Marriage License (NY/NJ)
• Drastic Haircut
• Get name of girl/boyfriend tattooed as a sign of commitment 

http://cheezburger.com/View/5540892672

Hail to the Tree!

My tree has been up since 2009.

Sometimes we call it Hal (or whatever name comes to mind at the moment). Wookie refers to it as our boarder--though I can't remember it paying rent.

It makes me happy.

When 2010 rolled in and most people were taking down their trees, I decided it should stay. It's one of those things I thought of as a kid--when I'm grown up I'll be able to keep my tree up as long as I like--and you know what? I was right.

Last year, Christmas came and went again. Hal stayed his ground. I thought of taking it down over the summer but the holidays were only six months away and we'd only have to put it up again anway.

Over the last few years, the stresses and strains of adulthood have, more often than not, outweighed the advantages my childhood self expected a 'grown-up' would have. I'm sure it's the same for families everywhere dealing with unemployment, financial stress, and all that goes with it.

This tree has brightenend our home through some tough times. When our house flooded, not one drop of water touched it, even though it's in one of the rooms that saw that internal rain. This tree, in its enduring cheeriness stands as a constant reminder of the kind of fun I remember as a kid, that anticipation of good things to come and a countdown to a bright future.  It's also a reminder of one of the promises I made to myself as a child--that I might have to become an adult, but I would never be a 'grown-up.'

In fact, now that I think about it, maybe that's the one advantage to being an adult that too many of us neglect to exploit. As adults we can choose not to be grown-ups.

So I say, whatever your symbol of happiness, let it stand year' round. Keep your tree up! BBQ in your backyard in January! Wear white after Labor Day!  Find those little things that make you happy and keep doing them. Because the world can use all the happy it can get.

Because "Happy Holidays" is a NICE Thing to Say...

The whole "War on Christmas" thing really annoys me every year. It's divisive and I don't think the people who promote that idea really care about the spirit of the season at all. 

I live surrounded by a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. I like saying "Happy Holidays" because I think it's inclusive of everyone whether they celebrate Christmas or Yule, Festivus, Chanukah, or Kwanza, or (as Jon Stewart said) "end of the fiscal fourth quarter."

When I saw this vintage Santa on The Graphics Fairy, a number of things went through my head. "Aren't those kids freezing?" "Wait, is Santa on his way in or out?" 

I realized this scene was a great chance for Santa to say what's on my mind every year, so I made a card.  You can get it on Zazzle.

Cards by Lifeat30Feet ©2011 by Cristina Kollet

Original image courtesy of http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

"Remember kids, saying 'Happy Holidays' just means that you are courteous enough to acknowledge the rich diversity of holidays being celebrated by all the peoples of the Earth at this festive time of year."

Peace and Joy to everyone from Lifeat30Feet!

Words Can Be a Thousand Pictures

I've made a living with words my entire professional life. I am often disappointed with the limitations of expressiveness of the written word as we most often use it today.

Most of us are limited, when we type, to expressing tone with bold face or italics. I might underline for emphasis or combine what's available.

I might be rude and SHOUT with caps.

I might go really wild and use a different color or point size.

In the end though, my attempts often fall short of the tone I am trying to convey. I come across as amateurish and the nuances of spoken language are lost.

But who has the time to write by hand any more?
And writing by hand is not great for editing, or producing longer works.

Back in the day, I used to work at a company that printed wedding and other invitations. I could identify fonts by sight. I could tell you by name if it was a serif or sans serif font. But sadly, that's as far as my ability with type goes. I'm more the wordsmith and proofreader. I can tell you when something is wrong with type. Whereas my sister has the gift for design. 

It's something of a family tradition. Our grandfather worked in printing. It's nice to know we both carry that on in one way or another. I recently told a friend that I am genetically predisposed to reject broken type.

This bit of design envy I have concerning the limitations at my end of the medium is why I've been enjoying a blog I came across this morning.

 All rights reserved by Hannes Beer

Typeeverything is eye candy for those of us who like to see how expressive type can be.

The first entry I saw was this one, which sums up my attitude on many a day--usually when arguing with my cats. I like the expressiveness of the "Hell" and the absolute firmness of the "No!"

http://friendsoftype.com/

This entry makes me envious because I tend to be a huge fan of well placed sarcasm, but it's often lost in translation when I'm writing an email.



And it led me to another site http://friendsoftype.com/, which is full of more fun visual distractions.

Both of these images need to be up on the wall in my office and I could spend the whole day scrolling through these sites if I didn't have important work to do this weekend. 

So back to work it is, but I've added these sites to my list of blogs to read. I'm looking forward to more typesetting deliciousness later.

Pottery Class Session 2 Results!

I am so very thrilled with the results of my second session of lessons at the New York/New Jersey Academy of Ceramic Art. I made nine pieces this session. Most of them are gifts so this first shot is the last time they were all together in one place.

©Cristina Kollet 2011

I made this one for my mother. (I need a better picture.) The dogwood flower was added as an applique. I applied latex to the flowers and stem before the initial glazing. Then I removed the latex and painted the flower and stem with glaze.

©Cristina Kollet 2011

This scoop missing from this bowl was unintentional. It broke off when the piece was leather hard. I like to roll with the "oopses." My niece says it makes the bowl easy to hold.

©Cristina Kollet 2011

I had a vision for the glaze on this one. I am thrilled with how it came out.

©Cristina Kollet 2011

The Pottery Results are In! or What I Made on My Mental Vacation

Ten weeks, three hours a week (some weeks more) and fourteen pieces to show for it!

©2011 Cristina Kollet

In the end glazing turned out to be the most difficult thing. Most of the mugs are decorative rather than food-safe because of spots inside where the glaze didn't cover. But I am thrilled with the results.

It is amazing to be able to start with this

©2011 Cristina Kollet

and turn it into this

©2011 Cristina Kollet

and wind up with this!

©2011 Cristina Kollet

Tea tastes better in a mug I made myself. Cheers!

©2011 Cristina Kollet

A Tale in Seven Parts

Last week was one of busiest weeks in recent memory. Some events I could never have predicted.

©2011 Cristina Kollet

Monday my cat was diagnosed with Lymphoma. This was actually the better of possible diagnoses, as Lymphoma in cats can be treated with chemotherapy and there is hope that she may go into remission. (Fingers crossed.)

One of the things we need to watch her for is dehydration, which was a problem last week. To treat it, the vet taught me how to give her subcutaneous fluids and I performed that procedure at home Monday with Paul’s help.  It takes both of us and there was a false start, but we were ultimately successful.

©2011 Cristina Kollet

On Tuesday, I was the target of an under cover sting operation by police.

My New Super Power

I've been taking pottery classes--a gift from my wonderful husband and well timed. The classes were to get me out of the house and to relieve stress. There is something about getting one's hands dirty that is very therapeutic. This is the one scheduled activity I have where I'm not shooting for perfection, as I do with the day job and the ceremonies I write for my clients, and when I'm teaching.

It's good to be a student for a change. When I'm at the wheel it's about fun and learning. When a piece collapses on the wheel it's all part of the fun.

This week I made a break through. I created three pieces and two actually came out more or less as I had intended. (My previous attempts can be best described with the words "let's see what happens this time.")

And so, my new super power is revealed. I can turn this

into this

and this

into this.

Of course sometimes things still go a bit wonky.  This

was headed towards becoming a nice cylinder when it collapsed.

But I still had clay to play with on the wheel and, while unstable and unpredictable, I was still happy with the results, so I kept it.

I Made This!

Things have gotten very busy since the holidays.  I have lots of things I want to post about, but no time to write. Hopefully I'll get caught up soon.

In the mean time, I wanted to show (ok, show off) some of the fruits of my labor. I've been taking a pottery class. Last weekend I made these!

©2011 Cristina Kollet

Love Is...

©Cristina Kollet 2010